Healthy Food Guideby KarbCoach

Healthy Food Guide by KarbCoach

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, Snack Crackers, Halloween Edition: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-10-17 · Pepperidge Farm

Quick answer

Mixed integrity

Pepperidge Farm goldfish cheddar crackers, snack crackers, halloween edition received a Food Integrity Score of 63 out of 100 (mixed integrity). This reflects highly processed and moderate additive load. This is a recognizable cheddar cracker with a fairly familiar ingredient base, but the blend of refined flour, mixed vegetable oils, autolyzed yeast extract, and color and flavor helpers pushes it toward a more engineered profile. It reads as a snack to eat occasionally rather than often, and the main drivers are the refined and additive-style ingredients rather than anything extreme. Main considerations include refined enriched wheat flour base, mixed refined vegetable oils, and autolyzed yeast extract and broad spice blend. Simpler options: Look for crackers made with whole grain flour and a named oil like olive or avocado; choose cheese crackers with a shorter list and fewer flavor or leavening additives.

Food Integrity Score 63/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Highly processed
  • Moderate additive load
  • Transparency: Medium

What to watch?

  • Refined enriched wheat flour base
  • Mixed refined vegetable oils
  • Autolyzed yeast extract and broad spice blend

Simpler options to consider

  • Look for crackers made with whole grain flour and a named oil like olive or avocado
  • Choose cheese crackers with a shorter list and fewer flavor or leavening additives

You are viewing ingredients and processing. Switch to Longevity for nutrition and longer-term eating pattern fit.

Source data, GTIN, and Healthy Food Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, Snack Crackers, Halloween Edition
Category
Snacks (source: Biscuits/Cookies)
GTIN / UPC
00014100040972
Serving size
30 g
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Healthy Food Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

Food Integrity results

Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, Snack Crackers, Halloween Edition

Pepperidge Farm

Mixed integrity

Warning Signs

Refined enriched wheat flour, canola and sunflower/soybean vegetable oils, and annatto color make this more formulated than a simple snack.

Consider This

Vegetable oil blends, autolyzed yeast extract, and spice and flavor systems are typical of factory-formulated crackers rather than a simple home recipe.

Good Substitutes

Try baked crackers made with whole wheat flour, real cheddar, olive oil, and salt for a shorter ingredient list.

Overall Assessment

Mixed integrity

This is a recognizable cheddar cracker with a fairly familiar ingredient base, but the blend of refined flour, mixed vegetable oils, autolyzed yeast extract, and color and flavor helpers pushes it toward a more engineered profile. It reads as a snack to eat occasionally rather than often, and the main drivers are the refined and additive-style ingredients rather than anything extreme.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Refined enriched wheat flour base
  • Mixed refined vegetable oils
  • Autolyzed yeast extract and broad spice blend

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • Vegetable oils (canola, sunflower and/or soybean) — Refined seed oil blend with variable oil source
  • Autolyzed yeast extract — Processed savory flavor enhancer
  • Spices — Broad, unspecified spice blend
  • Monocalcium phosphate — Chemical leavening additive

Highest concern ingredients

  • Vegetable oils (canola, sunflower and/or soybean) (6/10) — Refined seed oil blend with variable oil source.
  • Autolyzed yeast extract (6/10) — Processed savory flavor enhancer.
  • Spices (5/10) — Broad, unspecified spice blend.

Better choice tips

  • Look for crackers made with whole grain flour and a named oil like olive or avocado.
  • Choose cheese crackers with a shorter list and fewer flavor or leavening additives.

Ingredients

Ingredient list

MADE WITH SMILES AND ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), CHEDDAR CHEESE ([CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES], ANNATTO), VEGETABLE OILS (CANOLA, SUNFLOWER AND/OR SOYBEAN), SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: YEAST, SUGAR, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, PAPRIKA, SPICES, CELERY, ONION POWDER, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA. CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK.

Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.

Highest-concern ingredients first. Expand an item for notes.

  1. Vegetable oils (canola, sunflower and/or soybean)Concern 6/10 — Moderate concernRefined oilWatchlist · Vague label term

    What this is

    Refined oil

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Refined seed oils are a common watchlist item and the blend is not fully specified.

    Additional note

    Refined seed oil blend; the exact oil varies by batch.

    Family watchlist

    Refined seed oil blend with variable oil source

  2. Autolyzed yeast extractConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernFlavor enhancerWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Flavor enhancer

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Autolyzed yeast extract is a processed flavor input often flagged for savory-flavor engineering.

    Additional note

    Yeast extract used for savory flavor.

    Family watchlist

    Processed savory flavor enhancer

  3. SpicesConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernVague ingredientWatchlist · Vague label term

    What this is

    Vague ingredient

    Processing category

    Unknown / not listed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Spices is a broad category, so the exact components are not disclosed.

    Additional note

    Broad spice category; specific spices not named.

    Family watchlist

    Broad, unspecified spice blend

  4. Monocalcium phosphateConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernLeavening agentWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Leavening agent

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Monocalcium phosphate is a leavening additive that helps control rise and texture.

    Additional note

    Leavening acid used in baked goods.

    Family watchlist

    Chemical leavening additive

View all 13 ingredient assessments
  1. Made with smiles and enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)Concern 4/10 — Mild concernRefined grain

    What this is

    Refined grain

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Refined flour is more processed than whole grain and is a common base for snack crackers.

    Additional note

    Refined wheat flour with vitamin and mineral enrichment added back.

  2. SugarConcern 3/10 — Mild concernSweetener

    What this is

    Sweetener

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Main concern area

    Ingredient concern

    Why it matters

    Added sugar is a refined sweetener, though present in small quantity here.

    Additional note

    Refined sugar in a small amount.

  3. Cheddar cheese ([cultured milk, salt, enzymes], annatto)Concern 2/10 — Very low concernDairy ingredientAdditive

    What this is

    Dairy ingredient

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Color additive

    Why it matters

    Annatto is a plant-derived color added to give the cheese its orange look.

    Additional note

    Real cheese with annatto coloring; cultured milk, salt, and enzymes listed.

  4. Contains 2% or less of: yeastConcern 1/10 — Very low concernLeavening agent

    What this is

    Leavening agent

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Why it matters

    Yeast is a traditional baking ingredient used in small amounts.

    Additional note

    Leavening yeast in small amount.

  5. Baking sodaConcern 1/10 — Very low concernLeavening agentAdditive

    What this is

    Leavening agent

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Why it matters

    Baking soda is a traditional leavening ingredient used in small amounts.

    Additional note

    Sodium bicarbonate leavening.

  6. SaltConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Salt is a simple, expected ingredient in snack crackers.

    Additional note

    Basic seasoning salt.

  7. PaprikaConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Paprika is a recognizable spice used for color and flavor.

    Additional note

    Dried ground pepper spice.

  8. CeleryConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Celery is a recognizable vegetable seasoning ingredient.

    Additional note

    Vegetable used in seasoning.

  9. Onion powderConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Onion powder is a simple dried seasoning.

    Additional note

    Dried ground onion.

This Food Integrity score estimates how closely the ingredient list resembles a simple, recognizable profile. It is not a medical safety rating. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

How this product may fit different goals

The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.

  • Vegan

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Vegan, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "milk", "cheese". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Plant-Based

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Plant-Based, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "milk", "cheese". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Low-Carb Lifestyle

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Low-Carb Lifestyle, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Carb-dense ingredients (Mentions "flour", "wheat flour", "sugar". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Keto-Style Eating

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Keto-Style Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Carb-dense ingredients (Mentions "flour", "wheat flour", "sugar". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Low Gluten Eating

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Low Gluten Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Gluten-related ingredients (Mentions "wheat". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Minimally Processed Eating

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Minimally Processed Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Higher processing level (Highly processed)

    This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.

    See more for this goal

See how this product fits your goals

Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.

Personalize this analysis

Understanding the Food Integrity analysis

What the Food Integrity analysis evaluates

The Food Integrity analysis focuses on how a packaged food is formulated and made. It examines processing level, ingredient quality, additives, oils, sweeteners, purity cues, and how clearly a label communicates what is in the product. The Food Integrity Score summarizes that formulation and transparency picture on a 0–100 scale. It is not a full nutrient report and it is not a personalized meal plan.

Why processing, ingredients, and transparency matter

Processing level and ingredient quality shape what you are actually eating beyond calories on the label. Additives, industrial oils, and intense sweeteners can change how clean or heavily engineered a product feels, even when the front of pack looks wholesome. Purity and transparency matter because incomplete or marketing-heavy labeling can hide tradeoffs that only show up when the full ingredient list is reviewed carefully.

Who may prioritize Food Integrity

Some people care mainly about Food Integrity because their dietary goals center on formulation rather than macros alone. Examples include checking vegetarian or vegan suitability, preferring simpler ingredient sources, avoiding certain additives or sweeteners, watching oil choices, or preferring less processed options. For those priorities, the Food Integrity Score can be the more practical first read.

How Food Integrity differs from Longevity

Food Integrity is the focused analysis of processing, ingredients, additives, purity, and transparency. Longevity is the broader analysis of nutritional composition, metabolic and dietary characteristics, processing, and ingredient quality together. Favorable nutrition values do not necessarily mean strong Food Integrity: a product can look balanced on macros yet still rely on heavy processing or additives that the Food Integrity analysis flags in more detail.

Why the two analyses overlap—and why to review Longevity too

The analyses overlap intentionally. Food Integrity–related characteristics contribute to Longevity, and Longevity still benefits from the same ingredient-quality lens. They are not competing verdicts; they answer different questions at different depths. Reviewing the Longevity analysis can add information about nutritional composition, metabolic characteristics, and dietary balance that Food Integrity alone does not emphasize. Looking at both usually gives the most complete understanding of tradeoffs.

Common questions about this product

Is Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, Snack Crackers, Halloween Edition highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Highly processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.

Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?

Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.

How much fiber is in one serving?

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, Snack Crackers, Halloween Edition shows about 0.99g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, Snack Crackers, Halloween Edition: 0g added sugar per serving; sweetener signals include sugar. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Contains real cheddar cheese; No added sugar listed on label; Low saturated fat per serving.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: Made with enriched refined wheat flour; Canola, sunflower, and/or soybean seed oils; Sodium near 250 mg per 30 g serving.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same snacks differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.

Other published analyses in Snacks, selected from the same Healthy Food Guide catalog.

Source data and Healthy Food Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Healthy Food Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
  3. How the Longevity Score is calculated
  4. How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
  5. Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
  6. Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
  7. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information

Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

Sources, citations & safety

See how this item lines up with your goals

Healthy Food Guide covers this product in detail. In KarbCoach, your goals shape what matters most for your meals.

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