Are Goldfish Crackers Vegan? (April, 2024 Update)

Figuring out whether Goldfish Crackers are safe for vegans to consume can be a bit tough.

The makers of crackers and similar snacks often hide their ingredients behind vague terms, such as “natural flavors,” and even when they do list everything that goes into their products, it can be hard to decipher whether those ingredients are vegan or not.

To ensure that you’re only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve looked into the ingredients and production process of Goldfish Crackers.

Here’s what I found out.

Are Goldfish Crackers Vegan?

No. Goldfish Crackers are not vegan.

Goldfish Crackers are a type of cracker that is made popular by the Pepperidge Farm brand. They are usually eaten as a snack food, and come in a variety of flavors such as cheddar, Parmesan, and pretzel. Sadly, vegans will not be able to find any flavors of Goldfish that are free from animal-based ingredients.

Goldfish are made with milk and several milk derivatives, such as cheddar and other cheeses, whey, cream, and butter. These are all dairy products, which means they come from cows.

Additionally, they contain refined sugar, molasses, and dextrose, all of which are often processed using bone char, a type of carbon that is made from the bones of cows, pigs, and other animals to make the sugar whiter. Unless labeled “unrefined,” “raw,” or “organic,” then sugar or any sugar by-product is likely non-vegan.

Are Goldfish Crackers Cruelty Free?

Yes! Goldfish Crackers are cruelty free.

Goldfish are not tested on animals at any point during the production process. They also don’t contain ingredients, such as artificial colors, that are regularly tested on animals.

Animal testing is an inhumane and outdated practice that should no longer be used in the food industry. Innocent animals are only subjected to pain, suffering, and death for the sake of human consumption.

There are many alternative methods of testing that are available and do not involve animals. These methods are often more accurate and faster. So there are really no excuses for brands to continue testing on animals.

What Are Goldfish Crackers Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Original Goldfish Baked Crackers:

Enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
Vegetable oils (canola, sunflower, and/or soybean)
Salt
Yeast
Nonfat milk
Sugar
Baking soda
Spices
Celery
Paprika
Monocalcium phosphate
Onion powder

Let’s break down each ingredient of Goldfish Crackers:

Enriched wheat flour

Enriched wheat flour is a type of flour that has been fortified with vitamins and minerals. It is made by adding back in nutrients that are lost during the milling process. Enriched wheat flour is used in foods as a way to increase their nutrient content.

The nutrients that are added back into enriched wheat flour include niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid. These vitamins and minerals are all vegan friendly. Enriched wheat flour is vegan.

Vegetable oils

Vegetable oils are extracted from plants. The three most common types of vegetable oils used in Goldfish Crackers are canola oil, sunflower oil, and soybean oil.

Canola oil is made from the crushing and extraction of rapeseed plants.

Sunflower oil is made from the crushing and extraction of sunflower seeds.

Soybean oil is made from the crushing and extraction of soybeans.

These vegetable oils are all vegan.

Salt

Salt is a type of mineral that is composed of sodium and chloride. It is often used as a seasoning or preservative in food. Salt is vegan.

Yeast

Yeast is a type of single-celled microorganism that feeds on sugars. It is often used in baking to help bread rise. Yeast is vegan.

Nonfat milk

Nonfat milk is a type of milk that has fat removed. It is also known as skim milk. Nonfat milk is made by skimming the cream off of whole milk. Nonfat milk is not vegan.

Sugar

Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that is composed of sucrose molecules. It is often used as a sweetener in food. Sugar is often processed with bone char, a type of carbon that is made from the bones of cows, pigs, and other animals, making it non-vegan. Unless it is labeled as “unrefined,” “raw,” or “organic,” then it is likely that the sugar is processed using bone char.

Baking soda

Baking soda is a type of salt that is composed of sodium bicarbonate. It is often used in baking as a leavening agent. Baking soda is vegan.

Spices

Spices are a type of seasoning that is made from dried and ground plants. They are often used to add flavor to food. Spices are vegan.

Celery

Celery is a type of vegetable that is often used as a flavoring agent in food. Celery is vegan.

Paprika

Paprika is a type of spice that is made from dried peppers. It is often used as a coloring agent in food. Paprika is vegan.

Monocalcium phosphate

Monocalcium phosphate is a type of calcium salt that is used as a leavening agent in baking. It is vegan.

Onion powder

Onion powder is a type of seasoning that is made from ground onions. Onion powder is vegan.

Why Aren’t Goldfish Crackers Vegan?

Goldfish are not vegan because they contain ingredients that vegans actively avoid, such as milk and several milk derivatives, including cheddar cheese, whey, cream, and butter. These ingredients are automatic disqualifiers for vegans.

Furthermore, they also contain some questionable ingredients, such as refined sugar, molasses, and dextrose. While these ingredients are not necessarily animal derived, they may be processed using bone char, which is a type of carbon that is made from the bones of cows, pigs, and other animals.