Okay, so I’ve been trying to cut down on processed foods, and you know those little Goldfish crackers? My kids love ’em, I love ’em, but I started wondering what’s actually in them.
So, I grabbed a bag and flipped it over. First thing I noticed? A whole bunch of words I couldn’t pronounce. That’s usually not a great sign, right?
My Deep Dive into the Ingredients
I started by listing everything out, just to get a good look:
- Made with Smiles and Enriched Wheat Flour (Bleached, Unbleached, whatever that means…).
- Vegetable Oils (Canola, Sunflower, and/or Soybean).
- Salt. Okay, that one’s normal.
- Nonfat Milk.
- Then a whole bunch of stuff that was “2% or less” of the total: Yeast, Sugar, Baking Soda, random spices… and “Autolyzed Yeast Extract”. I had to look THAT up.
So, the “enriched” flour thing… I did some digging. Turns out, it means they took out the natural nutrients and then added some back in. Doesn’t sound ideal, but I guess it’s better than totally stripped flour?
The vegetable oils… well, they’re not the worst, but they’re not olive oil either. It’s probably a cost-saving thing for the company.
The “Autolyzed Yeast Extract” was the real mystery. Turns out, it’s a flavor enhancer, kind of like MSG. It’s not necessarily bad for you, but it’s definitely not something you’d find in your own kitchen.
My Final Thoughts
After doing all this digging, I’m not totally freaked out. Goldfish aren’t health food, and I knew that. But it’s good to be aware of what’s in them.
I think I am going to try and make this at home.
It is time to start baking!
