GOLDFISH CRACKERS

Information updated October 2024

Goldfish crackers have almost become a right-of-passage childhood snack in the U.S. The Goldfish brand is owned by Campbell’s Soup Company.

FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, WE’LL LOOK AT WHAT’S IN A HOMEMADE CHEESE CRACKER: Homemade Cheese Crackers are relatively simple from an ingredient perspective: Flour, Water, Butter or Oil, Cheese and Salt. We’ll use this ingredient listing as a reference as we look at the leading manufactured Cheese Crackers.

GOLDFISH CHEDDAR CRACKERS CONTAIN ADDED SUGAR: There is sugar added to Goldfish Cheddar Crackers which we don’t see in a homemade recipe. (Source: Campbell’s Goldfish Web site 10/24) Goldfish Cheddar Crackers also contain Autolyzed Yeast Extract which is a flavor enhancer kin to MSG >> the FDA does not allow products which contain Autolyzed Yeast Extract or Yeast Extract to say “No MSG” on packaging. (Source: U.S. FDA 2024)

CHEDDAR CRACKER COMPARISON: Let’s compare Campbell’s Goldfish Cheddar Crackers to General Mills Annie’s Organic White Cheddar Bunnies Crackers. (Source: General Mills Annie's Web site 10/24)

Campbell’s Goldfish Cheddar crackers contain added Sugar.

Q: Why do you think Campbell's adds Sugar to kid-targeted products?

GOLDFISH WITH EXTRA FLAVORING: Flavor Blasted Goldfish are also targeted at kids >> older kids who always want more of the flavoring on items like this. 

Seen below, there are numerous ingredients NIK™ in the Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar Goldfish crackers including Autolyzed Yeast, Sugar, Torula Yeast, Milkfat, the FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative - Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Added Flavoring and Added Coloring.

Campbell’s falsely states their Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers contain no Preservatives >> but some contain Citric Acid which is an FDA-recognized chemical Preservative. (Source: U.S. FDA 2024)

Campbell’s makes “with smiles” and “ingredients that you can feel good about”, Goldfish products with Monosodium Glutamate (a.k.a. MSG), Sugar, Fructose and Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

Campbell's Goldfish spends significant time and money trying to appeal to children:

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE CHEESE CRACKERS: Here are two Cheese Crackers which are Closest To Homemade with No Sweeteners, MSG, TBHQ, Yeast Extract, Artificial Colors, Soybean Oil or Added Flavors. (Sources: Brand Web sites 10/24)

These include General Mills Annie’s Organic White Cheddar Squares and Simple Mills Almond Flour Certified Gluten-Free and Non-GMO Project Verified Farmhouse Cheddar Crackers.

Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.

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