Is Nabisco, better cheddars, baked snack crackers, original imp Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, the first place I look when determining if a product is safe for specific dietary restrictions is the ingredient list. For Nabisco Better Cheddars, the verdict is clear immediately. The very first ingredient listed is unbleached enriched flour, which is explicitly defined as wheat flour. Wheat is one of the primary sources of gluten, meaning this product is fundamentally not gluten-free.

There is a second, often overlooked ingredient that confirms this: malted barley flour. Barley is another grain that contains gluten. In the snack industry, malted barley flour is frequently used as a flavor enhancer or to aid in the baking process, but for those avoiding gluten, it is a significant red flag. Even if the wheat flour were removed, the presence of barley would still render the product unsafe.

It is also important to note that while the product contains cheddar cheese (which is a dairy product), it does not contain gluten-derived additives in the flavoring system (the autolyzed yeast extract and spices are typically gluten-free). However, because the structural base of the cracker is wheat, the entire product is contaminated with gluten.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Nabisco Better Cheddars function as a calorie-dense savory snack. A standard serving contains a significant amount of fat, primarily from soybean oil and the cheese itself. While fat is necessary for energy, the source here is a processed vegetable oil and saturated fat from dairy.

The sodium content is also worth monitoring. Between the cheddar cheese, added salt, and the autolyzed yeast extract (a flavor enhancer similar to MSG), these crackers can contribute a high percentage of your daily sodium intake in just a small serving. They provide a quick burst of energy due to the refined carbohydrates in the wheat flour, but they lack significant fiber or protein to keep you full for long.