Is Animal Crackers Ultra Processed?
Not Typically Ultra-Processed
Animal crackers are highly processed (Level 3). They are a relatively simple cookie made from enriched flour, sugar, soybean oil, and leavening agents. While they contain more ingredients than homemade cookies, they lack many of the extreme additives found in Level 4 snacks — no artificial colors, MSG, or complex flavor systems in most brands.
Key Findings
- •Animal crackers have 8-12 ingredients — more than homemade cookies but fewer than most packaged snacks
- •They lack the artificial colors, MSG, and complex flavor systems that characterize Level 4 ultra-processed snacks
- •Some brands use high fructose corn syrup while others use regular sugar — check individual labels
Why Is Animal Crackers Level 3?
Animal crackers (such as Barnum's or Stauffer's) are made from enriched wheat flour, sugar, soybean oil, high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup, salt, baking soda, soy lecithin, and natural flavor. The ingredient list is relatively short for a commercial packaged snack (8-12 ingredients). The enriched flour and soybean oil are processed ingredients, and some brands use high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar. However, animal crackers do not contain the artificial colors, MSG, flavor potentiators, or complex seasoning systems that define Level 4 products.
Animal Crackers Processing Level Distribution
How 1,000 animal crackers products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 17.3 · Average nutrition score: 4.3/10
Animal Crackers Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed animal crackers products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Vanilla Flavored Organic Animal Cookies, Vanilla | O Organics | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Animal Crackers | Happy Snacks | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 7 |
| Happy Snack, Animal Crackers | Happy Snack | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 7 |
How to Read Animal Crackers Labels
- 1
Check whether the sweetener is sugar or high fructose corn syrup — some brands use one, some the other
- 2
Soy lecithin is a common emulsifier in baked goods — a minor processing indicator
- 3
Enriched flour means vitamins were stripped during milling and synthetically added back
- 4
Brands vary: compare ingredient lists between Barnum's, Stauffer's, and store brands for the simplest option
Frequently Asked Questions
Are animal crackers a healthy snack?
Animal crackers are lower in fat and calories per serving than most cookies and chips. From a processing standpoint, they are Level 3 — not the simplest option but less processed than most packaged snacks. Their relatively short ingredient list (8-12 items) and absence of artificial colors are advantages over many alternatives.
Are animal crackers cookies or crackers?
Despite the name, animal crackers are technically cookies — they are made from a sweetened dough with sugar as a primary ingredient. They were called "crackers" historically due to their dry, crisp texture, but nutritionally and compositionally they are closer to a simple cookie.
What is the least processed animal cracker brand?
Compare ingredient lists across brands. Stauffer's Original Animal Crackers have a relatively simple list. Some organic brands (like Annie's) use organic flour and sugar without high fructose corn syrup. Homemade animal-shaped cookies with flour, butter, sugar, and egg are the least processed option at Level 2.