At some point in your life, you have probably wondered is mayonnaise dairy? Just by examining the appearance of mayonnaise you might have assumed it is a dairy product based on its milky color and whipped texture. Additionally, it does require refrigeration after opening, which may have made you think that it contains something like milk that would make it spoil at room temperature. Let’s take a closer look at mayonnaise to see if it is a dairy product.
Mayonnaise Ingredients
First, let’s review the ingredients of some popular mayonnaise products to see if there is dairy in mayonnaise. Remember that in order for something to be considered dairy, it must contain milk. Although eggs are often associated with dairy, they are not a dairy product. Here are the ingredients of some popular mayonnaise products:
Hellmann’s
Real Mayonnaise – Soybean oil, water, eggs, vinegar, salt, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, calcium disodium edta, natural flavors.
Light Mayonnaise – Water, soybean oil, modified food starch, eggs, sugar, salt. vinegar, lemon juice concentrate, sorbic acid and calcium disodium EDTA, natural flavor, extractives of paprika, vitamin E.
Organic Mayonnaise – Organic soybean oil, water, organic whole eggs, organic distilled vinegar, organic egg yolks, salt, organic dried cane syrup, organic lemon juice concentrate, natural flavor.
Duke’s
Regular Mayonnaise – Soybean oil, eggs, water, distilled and cider vinegar, salt, oleoresin paprika, natural flavors, calcium disodium edta.
Light Mayonnaise – Water, soybean oil, modified food starch, eggs, distilled and cider vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, sugar, lemon juice, spice, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate (preservative), D, L, Alphatocopherol acetate (vitamin E), Beta carotene (color), natural flavors.
Light Mayonnaise with Olive Oil – Water, Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Modified Food Starch, Egg Yolks, Distilled and Cider Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Lemon Juice, Spice, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), D,L, Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Beta Carotene (Color), Natural Flavors, Calcium Disodium EDTA Added To Protect Flavor.
Kraft
Regular Mayo – Soybean Oil, Water, Eggs, Vinegar, Contains Less than 2% of Sugar, Salt, Egg Yolks, Natural Flavor (Contains Mustard), Lemon Juice Concentrate, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor), Dried Garlic, Dried Onions, Paprika.
Mayo Light – Water, Soybean Oil, Modified Food Starch (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Vinegar, Sugar, Maltodextrin (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Salt, Natural Flavor, Eggs, Mustard Flour, Lactic Acid (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Flavor) (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Phosphoric Acid (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Dried Onions, Dried Garlic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Beta Carotene.
Mayo with Olive Oil – Water, Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Modified Food Starch (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Vinegar, Sugar, Maltodextrin (Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Salt, Eggs, Natural Flavor, Mustard Flour, Lactic Acid (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Potassium Sorbate (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise) (to Protect Flavor), Phosphoric Acid (Ingredient Not Normally Found in Mayonnaise), Dried Onions, Dried Garlic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor), Beta Carotene.
Is Mayonnaise Dairy?
The main ingredients in mayonnaise are eggs, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and often water. Mayonnaise is not considered dairy because it does not contain milk. However, while in the majority of mayonnaise products are dairy-free, you should check the label to verify that milk is not listed in the ingredients if dairy is a concern for you. As with many foods, there is likely an exception to dairy-free mayonnaise somewhere.