Most Processed Crackers
Each product is ranked by its own Processing Score, highest first. To keep the list from being one company's catalog, it shows at most two products from any one brand.
Crackers by the Numbers
We scored every crackers product in our database: 3,174 items across 420 brands. In our analysis, about 65% land in the Highly or Ultra-Processed tiers.
What should you look for on the label?
- Simple crackers list flour, water, oil, and salt with no more than 5-6 ingredients
- Avoid crackers with TBHQ, BHT, or partially hydrogenated oils
- Whole grain crackers should list whole wheat or another whole grain as the first ingredient
- Low sodium crackers can reduce processing load since less salt often means fewer flavor-masking additives
- Organic crackers skip synthetic preservatives but always verify the full ingredient list
- Cheese-flavored crackers use processed cheese powders with multiple sub-ingredients
Least Processed Crackers
For context, here are the top 5 of the opposite ranking, the least processed crackers in our analysis.
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How are products scored?
Every product is evaluated using two independent scores. The Processing Score (lower is better) measures the degree of industrial processing based on ingredient analysis, including the presence of artificial additives, preservatives, and highly modified ingredients. The Nutrition Score (higher is better) rates overall nutritional quality, rewarding protein and fiber while penalizing excess sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.
Products are assigned to one of four processing levels: Minimal (score ≤ 2.5), Processed (2.6 to 5.0), Highly Processed (5.1 to 8.0), and Ultra-Processed (above 8.0). Each product in the ranking is placed by its own Processing Score, not by its brand. Based on our analysis of 445K+ curated products from the USDA FoodData Central database. For a deeper look, see our Processing Score guide and Two-Score System explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cheese crackers score so high?
Cheese crackers combine processed cheese powder (with emulsifiers and colorants), partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, and preservatives like TBHQ, stacking multiple processing indicators.
Are whole wheat crackers less processed?
Not necessarily. Many whole wheat crackers add the same preservatives, oils, and flavoring agents as refined flour crackers. The grain type is less important than the full ingredient list.
Are Goldfish crackers ultra-processed?
Goldfish contain enriched flour, vegetable oils, cheddar cheese powder, salt, yeast, sugar, autolyzed yeast extract, and multiple additives. Each variety carries its own score; search for the one you buy to see it.