Does CHEDDAR Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers contain dairy or gluten?

Yes, CHEDDAR Goldfish contain dairy in the form of cheddar cheese (cultured milk) and gluten from the enriched wheat flour.

Is CHEDDAR Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers good for weight loss?

They are not ideal for weight loss. They are calorie-dense with a high glycemic index, which can lead to blood sugar spikes and increased hunger.

Where can I buy CHEDDAR Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers?

They are widely available at major grocery stores, big-box retailers like Walmart and Target, and online via Amazon.

Is CHEDDAR Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers safe for kids?

Yes, they are a standard snack food marketed to children. However, due to the sugar and processed oil content, they should be consumed in moderation.

Is CHEDDAR Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers Keto?

If you are looking for a quick snack while maintaining ketosis, you might reach for the iconic Goldfish. However, the direct answer is NO, CHEDDAR Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers are not keto. While they are baked rather than fried, the primary ingredients are derived from wheat and sugar, which will immediately spike your blood glucose and kick you out of a fat-burning state.

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, looking at the ingredient list for CHEDDAR Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers reveals a composition that is fundamentally incompatible with a ketogenic diet. The very first ingredient is ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR. This is essentially refined white flour, which is processed by the body almost instantly into glucose. On keto, high-glycemic carbohydrates are strictly limited, and wheat flour is the primary offender here.

Another major red flag is the presence of SUGAR listed explicitly in the ingredients. Even small amounts of added sugar can disrupt the metabolic state of ketosis. Furthermore, the crackers contain AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT. While this is often used to enhance savory flavors (acting as a flavor enhancer similar to MSG), it is a byproduct of fermentation that can contain trace sugars. The combination of wheat flour and added sugar creates a 'double threat' to your carb limit.

Finally, the leavening agents like MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE and BAKING SODA are standard for creating the cracker's texture but offer no nutritional value for a keto dieter. The inclusion of VEGETABLE OILS (Canola, Sunflower, Soybean) is also worth noting, as many clean-keto advocates prefer fats like avocado oil or coconut oil over processed seed oils due to their omega-6 fatty acid profiles.

🚫 Culprit Ingredients:

sugarflourwheat

Nutritional Value

When analyzing the nutritional profile, the numbers tell the story. A standard serving of these crackers contains roughly 20 grams of carbohydrates. For a strict keto diet, which usually caps daily intake at 20 to 50 grams, a single serving of Goldfish consumes nearly your entire allowance for the day. There is simply not enough fiber in the enriched wheat flour to offset the net carb count.

While the crackers do contain some fat from the vegetable oils and cheese, the ratio is wrong for keto. A proper keto snack should be high in healthy fats, moderate in protein, and very low in carbohydrates. CHEDDAR Goldfish are the inverse: they are high in carbohydrates with moderate fat. Additionally, the calorie density is relatively high for the lack of satiety they provide, meaning you are likely to feel hungry again soon after eating them, potentially leading to overeating.