SNYDER’S OF HANOVER PRETZELS

Information updated December 2024

Snyder’s of Hanover is a Pretzel company owned by The Campbell Soup Company.

Snyder’s notes, “Each bite of our products reflects our commitment to quality ingredients . . .” (Source: Campbell’s Snyder’s Web site 12/24)

COMPARISON TO HOMEMADE: Homemade Pretzels consist of a simple combination of the following: Flour, Water, Yeast, Baking Soda, Oil and Salt. We’ll keep this in mind as we look at what’s inside different Pretzel offerings from Snyder’s of Hanover.

Let’s see what’s in the “basic” versions of Snyder’s Pretzels >> Mini, Sticks and Dipping Sticks. (Source for ingredients: Campbell’s Snyder’s Web site 12/24) These three products do not contain the exact same ingredients.. The Mini contain added Cane Sugar plus Tapioca Syrup in the Malt, the Sticks and Dipping Sticks contain Tapioca Syrup. The Mini and Sticks are made with Canola Oil while the Dipping Sticks contain Canola, Palm, Soy and/or Sunflower Oil.

Shown below, PRETZEL COMPARISON: Here’s a snapshot of Snyder’s Mini Pretzels vs. a Closest To Homemade® brand — Unique Snacks Splits — which are Non-GMO Project Verified and Kosher certified >> these Unique Pretzels are made with Unbleached Wheat Flour and Sunflower Oil. (Source: Unique Snacks Web site 12/24)

GLUTEN-FREE PRETZELS: Snyder’s also makes Gluten-Free Pretzels including these Mini Pretzels below which include Palm Oil, Carboxymethylcellulose, Dextrose, Sunflower Lecithin and Citric Acid >> these ingredients are Not In Kitchen when making homemade gluten-free Pretzels.

Dextrose is the type of Sugar from which candies like Smarties are made.

ABOUT CITRIC ACID: Citric Acid is a Chemical Preservative recognized by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in a class with Sodium Nitrite. Unless it specifically states ‘Naturally-derived Citric Acid’, Manufactured Citric Acid is not made from Citrus Fruit. Rather, it is made in a laboratory using Aspergillus niger (a.k.a. Black Mold). (Sources: U.S. FDA 2024; National Library of Medicine U.S. Institutes of Health) Read more here:

MANUFACTURED CITRIC ACID

Shown below, in addition to the Gluten Free Mini Pretzels, there are other Snyder’s products which contain the FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative, Citric Acid.

Some of Snyder’s flavored Pretzel Pieces are banned at Whole Foods for Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and other Flavor Enhancers which Whole Foods cite as “Unacceptable in Food”. (Source: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 12/24) The following three Snyder’s Pretzel Pieces each includes four ingredients banned at Whole Foods >> Buttermilk Ranch, Jalapeño and Hot Buffalo Wing.

Below is a closer look at Snyder’s Buttermilk Ranch Pretzel Pieces which contain not only the banned ingredients noted above but multiple ingredients which are Not In Kitchen™ including Natural Flavoring, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Yeast Extract which is yet another Flavor Enhancer; Yeast Extract is not the same thing as Yeast >> you will note that Yeast is listed separately (Yeast is listed between the Lactic Acid and the Whey).

Here’s a look at what’s inside Snyder’s Butter Snaps Pretzels:

On the Snyder’s of Hanover Web site, it states their Gluten Free Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzel Sticks are, “Made with finest premium ingredients”

These “finest premium ingredients” from Snyder’s include several items we don’t have in our home kitchens such as Dextrose, Palm Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Carboxymethylcellulose, Commercial Natural Flavoring and Citric Acid.

Following is a snapshot of Whole Foods 365 Pretzels:

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE PRETZELS: Here are some Pretzels which are Closest To Homemade with no MSG, no Added Flavors or Colors, no Added Sugar, no Soy or Canola and no Chemical Preservatives. These include Non-GMO Project Verified Pretzel Crisps >> this product contains a small amount of Sugar; Non-GMO Project Verified Unique Snacks Splits and Pretzel Shells — just the crunchy outside — with no Added Sweeteners. (Sources: Brand Web sites 12/24)