Is Banza Pasta Vegan? Can Vegans Eat Banza Pasta?

Who doesn’t love pasta for dinner? With the multiple recipes and flavors you can make with it, it’s definitely among the staple in every home kitchen. However, it can be quite a challenging task to determine if the pasta brand is vegan.

Well, if you’re looking for some healthy, vegan pasta— then Banza Pasta can be one of your considerations. It is 100% vegan as it is made only with chickpea flour. No eggs or any dairy products were used in its manufacturing process.

In this article, we will talk more about Banza Pasta and why it can make your dinner a little extra vegan special.

Let’s begin!

What Is Banza Pasta?

Banza is a company that offers food products such as pasta, pizza, mac ‘n cheese, and rice. They primarily use chickpeas in their manufacturing process instead of the traditional ingredients used in making the said products. 

It was the idea of Brian and Scott Rudolph, the owner of Banza company, to look for alternatives in traditional pasta made from wheat. They want to innovate the pasta manufacturing process into something healthier and vegan-friendly.

Banza Pasta is among the varieties of products the company offers. Their pasta is made with 50% more protein, 3 times more fiber, and 25% fewer net carbohydrates.

Their use of chickpeas in their pasta and other food products, and manufacturing is to help in the worsening conditions of the environment. As stated on their website, when companies use beans instead of beef, the world can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Hence, Banza Pasta is not only a healthier choice but also a step towards helping the environment.

Is Banza Pasta Vegan?

The answer is yes. Instead of using dairy products, Banza pasta uses chickpea flour. Chickpea is grown for its seeds packed with so many health benefits. It is a rich source of protein and fiber.

Aside from chickpeas, Banza Pasta is also made using pea starch, tapioca, and xanthan gum. These ingredients are all vegan-friendly.

Aside from being vegan, Banza Pasta is also a non-GMO and kosher-certified product. Plus, they only use clean and simple ingredients, most of which can be found in everyone’s kitchen.

Is Banza Pasta Cruelty-Free?

Banza Pasta is not only a vegan product; it is also certified to be cruelty-free. Being cruelty-free means, they do not test their products on animals. Moreover, they also do not use any kind of ingredient, i.e., artificial or natural flavorings,  that is tested on innocent animals.

One reason Banza Pasta uses chickpeas is to be socially responsible towards the environment. This is because chickpeas require less water to grow when compared to wheat farming.

Also, Banza Pasta is known to have fewer carbon footprints compared to other pasta brands. And ultimately, they are committed to developing new products that will be made with 100% plant-based ingredients.

Is Banza Pasta Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, and Allergen Free?

Banza ensured that the production of their pasta, in all shapes and forms, is gluten-free. In support of this claim, they are certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).

Banza Pasta is also certified to be Non-GMO. However, they are not proven to be using organic ingredients. In this regard, Banza ensures consumers that they are using premium, natural, and high-quality ingredients through their partnership with top suppliers.

Aside from this, you can also ensure that the manufacturing process of Banza Pasta, and all its variations, do not contain those confirmed by the FDA as major allergens. But, checking the labels first to look for possible allergens is still recommended.

Overall, Banza Pasta is certified as gluten-free, non-GMO, and non-allergenic. 

What Are The Ingredients of Banza Pasta?

Banza Pasta is made with the following ingredients:

• Chickpea
• Pea starch
• Tapioca
• Xanthan Gum

To fully understand the components of Banza Pasta, let’s discuss each ingredient comprehensively. 

What Is Chickpea? Is It Vegan?

If you’re a curry fan, you might already know what chickpea is. As mentioned above, chickpea is a food rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fiber, protein, iron, and potassium.

And yes, chickpeas are 100% vegan friendly as it is a plant ingredient. They are the primary ingredient of making Banza Pasta. They can also be used in several cooking recipes, such as hummus and stews.

What Is Pea Starch? Is It Vegan?

Pea starch is a vegan ingredient derived from yellow peas. It is normally white with a neutral taste. Pea starch is common among different vegan and gluten-free dishes.

They are primarily used as a thickening and binding agent for vegan dishes. They are also non-allergenic and certified to be a non-GMO ingredient.

What Is Tapioca? Is It Vegan?  

Tapioca, like pea starch, is also more commonly used as a thickening or binding agent among vegan dishes. It is derived from the cassava plant. Hence, this is 100% safe for vegan consumption.

What Is Xanthan Gum? Is It Vegan?

You might have heard of this ingredient in one of your baking classes. This is a type of carbohydrate that is mainly used as a stabilizer or thickening agent. Many gluten-free and vegan dishes use Xanthan Gum.

Yes, Xanthan Gum is 100% vegan friendly.

What Are The Varieties Of Banza Pasta? And Are They Vegan?

Now, you might see different variations of Banza Pasta. From Banza Penne Pasta and Banza Spaghetti to their Banza Mac And Cheese— there are just so many options.

Hence, to help you determine if they are safe for vegan consumption, we have made a table that can serve as your guide.

Banza Pasta Variety	Is It Vegan?
Penne	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Shells	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Ziti	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Alphabets	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Gemelli	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Cascatelli	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Elbows	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Rigatoni	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Wheels	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Casarecce	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Cavatappi	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Spaghetti	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Linguine	Yes, it is vegan. This Banza Pasta variation contains the same ingredients as the original one.
Banza Rice	Yes. It contains the same exact ingredients as the regular Banza Pasta. Plus, it may contain other vegan spices depending on its variety of flavor.
Mac ‘N Cheese (Plant-Based)	Yes. It doesn’t contain any dairy ingredients.
Mac and Cheese (Regular)	No, it contains dairy ingredients, such as milk and butter.

Banza Mac And Cheese

When it comes to their Mac and Cheese, they have two options. They have their Plant-Based Mac and Cheese and the regular Mac and Cheese flavor. You should be careful because only the plant-based one is safe for vegans.

Despite seeing the word cheese, the plant-based version contains no dairy ingredients. Instead of traditional cheese, they use vegan cheese for this variation. This would be perfect for making your own vegan mac and cheese Friday night.

Yup, you definitely heard that right. There is something as vegan cheese. To learn more, you can read Is Go Veggie Cheese Vegan? Can Vegans Eat Go Veggie Cheese?

However, the regular Banza mac and cheese is not suitable for your vegan dinner. Its sauce is actually made with milk and butter. These two are both animal products, so they are not vegan-friendly.

Banza Pasta Is 100% Vegan

Banza Pasta is a good pasta brand choice. It is made with entirely plant-based ingredients. No dairy is used in its manufacturing process, unlike the traditional pasta brands.

Moreover, Banza is committed to helping to save the environment. They do not test their products on animals and use only clean and simple ingredients. They are also environmentally responsible in their packaging.

So, if you’re looking for some pasta that you and your vegan friends or family can enjoy— Banza Pasta is definitely on top of the list. It’s healthy, cruelty-free, and environmentally friendly as well.

Did this article make you crave some pasta recipes? How about some pasta sauce? To learn more, you can try reading Is Marinara Sauce Vegan? Can Vegans Eat Marinara Sauce?