Cheddar Crackers

Name: Cheddar Crackers
Brand: Goldfish

0Avoid

Breakdown

Ultra-processed · 7 contaminants flagged · 4 ingredients to avoid

Includes lab results from its product family: Goldfish Cheddar (US enriched wheat base)

100

Lab-measured contaminants

Measured against published safety limits

−100

cadmium−41

glycidyl esters−13

acrylamide−12

di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dehp)−11

3-mcpd−10

2 smaller deductions−13

Ingredients

−85

canola oil−28

sunflower and/or soybean−28

folic acid−7

autolyzed yeast extract−7

niacin−3

6 more deductions−12

Processing

−10

NOVA 4: ultra-processed−10

Adjustments

What it takes to land on the final number

+95

Minimum score+95

Final score0

Contaminants · 8

5 at/over limit

Measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Cadmium39 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 7.8×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Glycidyl Esters14 ppbof 6 ppb

Over the limit — 2.3×EU maximum level, Commission Reg. (EU) 2023/915 Annex I (point 5.3.3.2, carried over from Reg. (EU) 2020/1322) — glycidyl fatty acid esters expressed as glycidol, 6.0 ug/kg in liquid infant formula, follow-on formula and FSMP. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published GE number. Looser EU levels not adopted: powdered infant formula 50 ug/kg; vegetable oils and fats placed on the market for the final consumer 1,000 ug/kg (500 ug/kg when destined for baby food).

Acrylamide81 ppbof 40 ppb

Over the limit — 2×EU benchmark level, Commission Reg. (EU) 2017/2158 Annex IV — 40 ug/kg for baby foods and processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children (other than biscuits and rusks), the tightest benchmark in the regulation. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published acrylamide number. EU benchmarks are mitigation-performance indicators, not legal maximum levels; looser category benchmarks not adopted include potato crisps 750, crackers 400, biscuits and wafers 350, breakfast cereals 150-300, roast coffee 400 ug/kg. No FDA or EPA food concentration limit exists.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)10 ppbof 6 ppb

Over the limit — 1.7×US EPA drinking-water MCL, 40 CFR 141.61(c) — 0.006 mg/L. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published DEHP number; the EU food-contact limit is looser (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442: SML 0.6 mg/kg, plus the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit with DBP/BBP/DIBP).

3-mcpd16 ppbof 12 ppb

Over the limit — 1.3×EU maximum level, Commission Reg. (EU) 2023/915 Annex I as amended by Reg. (EU) 2024/1003 (point 5.3.3.2) — sum of 3-MCPD and 3-MCPD fatty acid esters expressed as 3-MCPD, 12 ug/kg in liquid infant formula, follow-on formula and FSMP (cut from 15). Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published 3-MCPD number. Looser EU levels not adopted: powdered infant formula 80 ug/kg; free 3-MCPD in hydrolysed vegetable protein and soy sauce 20 ug/kg; vegetable oils and fats for the final consumer 1,250 ug/kg.

Lead3.06 ppbof 5 ppb

61% of the limitFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Arsenic3.15 ppbof 10 ppb

32% of the limitFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.010 mg/L (= EPA MCL)

MercuryNDof 2 ppb

Not detectedFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.002 mg/L

Contaminants · 2

2 at/over limit

Includes lab tests of other products in its family

Goldfish Cheddar (US enriched wheat base)

Worst result per contaminant across the family

In the family’s tests: measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Cadmium45 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 9×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Goldfish Cheddar Baked Snack Crackers, 1 oz (28 g) single-serve bag

Lead6 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 1.2×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Goldfish Cheddar Baked Snack Crackers, 1 oz (28 g) single-serve bag

Ingredients · 21

GoodCautionAvoid

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Common questions

Is Goldfish Cheddar Crackers healthy?

Goldfish Cheddar Crackers scores 0/100 on Tallow — our avoid band. That number comes from what is on the label: the ingredients, how processed it is, and what it is packaged in, plus lab results from its product family, Goldfish Cheddar (US enriched wheat base). It is not a verdict on your diet — Tallow does not weigh calories, portion size or how often you eat it, so a high score means the ingredients are clean, not that the food is unlimited.

What is in Goldfish Cheddar Crackers?

Goldfish Cheddar Crackers lists 21 ingredients, starting with Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate and Riboflavin. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first few make up most of what you are eating.

Does Goldfish Cheddar Crackers contain seed oils?

Yes. Goldfish Cheddar Crackers lists Canola Oil in its ingredients.

How processed is Goldfish Cheddar Crackers?

Goldfish Cheddar Crackers is NOVA group 4: ultra-processed. That is the top of the scale and the classification the score penalises most heavily.

How does Goldfish Cheddar Crackers compare to other crackers?

At 0/100 Goldfish Cheddar Crackers scores worse than most crackers we have scored. A higher-scoring option in crackers is Mary's Gone Crackers Organic Super Seed Everything Crackers at 100/100.

Is Goldfish Cheddar Crackers organic?

Goldfish Cheddar Crackers is not certified organic in our data.

Has Goldfish Cheddar Crackers been lab tested?

Yes. 8 substances in Goldfish Cheddar Crackers have a laboratory result on file — see the Contaminants section above for each reading and the limit it was measured against. Other products in its family (Goldfish Cheddar (US enriched wheat base)), which share its base recipe, were lab tested too. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Their results are in the family's Contaminants section above.

Does Goldfish Cheddar Crackers contain heavy metals?

Yes. A lab detected lead at 3.06 ppb against a 5 ppb limit, arsenic at 3.15 ppb against a 10 ppb limit and cadmium at 39 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Goldfish Cheddar Crackers. It also tested for mercury and found none above its detection limit. Each reading is in the Contaminants section above. Other products in its family, which share its base recipe, were tested too: a lab detected cadmium at 45 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Goldfish Cheddar Baked Snack Crackers, 1 oz (28 g) single-serve bag and lead at 6 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Goldfish Cheddar Baked Snack Crackers, 1 oz (28 g) single-serve bag. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests.

Does Goldfish Cheddar Crackers contain phthalates?

Yes. A lab detected DEHP at 10 ppb against a 6 ppb limit in Goldfish Cheddar Crackers. Each reading is in the Contaminants section above.

Full methodology: how we score products.