Are Goldfish Vegan? – What You Should Know
Most people would recognize Goldfish straight away – they are small fish-shaped cheese crackers that come in a variety of different flavors.
Goldfish are a fairly popular snack in many households and are particularly a favorite among kids. However, these little crackers might not be entirely suited for your diet.
Are Goldfish vegan? Unfortunately, Goldfish crackers are not vegan, and there is not one flavor that actually is. All of the varieties of Goldfish contain at least one non-vegan ingredient, mainly milk, meaning none are fully suitable for a vegan diet.
We have listed all the Goldfish flavors, the ingredients they contain, why they are not vegan, and some of the best vegan alternatives to Goldfish, so that you don’t have to miss out!
Why Goldfish Are Not Vegan
Put simply, Goldfish are not vegan. Each and every flavor of Goldfish contains at least one non-vegan ingredient made from an animal product, which effectively strikes them off the vegan-friendly food options list.
The ingredient found in all the flavors is a milk-derivative. However, this means that Goldfish might be suitable for vegetarians.
If you look at the flavors of Goldfish crackers, such as Parmesan, Baby Cheddar, and Pizza, you can see already that these flavors themselves are not vegan, and therefore they should be avoided.
Not only are milk derivatives an ingredient to worry about, but there are other problematic ingredients found in some of the Goldfish crackers.
Ingredients To Look Out For
Goldfish have three ingredients that need to be looked out for by those following a vegan diet.
Milk derivatives are the most obviously non-vegan ingredients in Goldfish, but palm oil and sugar are two other problematic ingredients that might not fit in with your diet and values.
1. Milk and Milk Derivatives
All flavors of Goldfish contain milk or milk derivatives, including ingredients such as nonfat milk, cheddar cheese, Parmesan, butter, and cultured milk.
These products, all being from cow’s milk, are not vegan, and therefore alone make Goldfish crackers not suitable for a vegan diet.
To take it one step further, while Parmesan cheese is not vegan, it is also not vegetarian either. Parmesan cheese is made using animal rennet, which is an enzyme found in the fourth stomach of a young, un-weaned calf.
So not only does the Parmesan flavor of Goldfish contain milk products in the form of Parmesan, but it also contains enzymes stripped from a calves stomach – which just makes it that much worse for both vegans and vegetarians!
As these milk derivatives come in a few different forms, it is definitely worth taking a good look at the ingredient list of Goldfish to see what it might contain, keeping in mind that no Goldfish cracker is actually vegan.
2. Palm Oil
Palm oil is a very problematic ingredient, and many vegans, vegetarians, and eco-conscious individuals choose not to include anything made with palm oil in their diet.
While palm oil is derived from a plant, which is vegan, it is the method of production and cultivation that is hugely damaging. The mass production of palm oil does huge damage to the environment, and at times includes some level of animal cruelty.
The biggest concern with palm oil is that it leads to large-scale deforestation of rainforests, destroying natural habitats for many animals. This also leads to increased greenhouse gasses, and in turn, climate change.
While technically vegan, it is definitely an ingredient to avoid if you are conscious about the environment.
3. Sugar
Contrary to how it may seem, sugar is not always a vegan ingredient. The white, processed sugar included in many ingredient lists is often processed with bone char, which is obtained by heating up animal bones, usually cattle, at a high temperature.
This bone char helps to filter and whiten the sugar, which is how white processed sugar gets its bleach-white appearance.
The use of bone char to process the sugar is a difficult one, as it is not always obvious whether this process was used to make a certain sugar on an ingredients list.
However, there are more and more sugar suppliers who are using vegan-friendly methods to process sugar instead, such as using activated carbon instead of bone char.
You might have to do your own research with this one to see whether the sugar you consume is safe or not.
The Different Flavors Of Goldfish
Goldfish crackers come in a few different flavors, and it is safe to assume that none of these are vegan-friendly. However, it is worth looking at the different flavors to see which ingredient in each is not vegan-friendly.
Goldfish Original
Goldfish original is the classic cheddar flavor, and without too many flavorings, you would expect it to have few ingredients, just like other popular original crackers.
However, Goldfish Original has a host of different ingredients, with nonfat milk being the main non-vegan component.
The ingredients include:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Vegetable Oils
- Salt
- Yeast
- Nonfat Milk
- Sugar
- Baking Soda
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Paprika
- Spices
- Celery
- Onion Powder
So the obvious culprit in this list is the nonfat milk, but it is also not specified what type of sugar is used, whether it is processed using vegan methods or with bone char. It is best to just stay away from these crackers if you follow a vegan diet!
Goldfish Colors
Goldfish Colors are a fun take on the traditional cheddar flavor and feature little fish in different colors.
The pack does say that the colors are sourced from plants, but this does not mean that the crackers are vegan. They still contain cheddar, so this is quite misleading.
The ingredients include:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Cheddar Cheese (made with cultured milk, salt, enzymes, annatto)
- Vegetable Oils
- Salt
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Autolyzed Yeast Extract
- Spices
- Celery
- Onion Powder
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Baking Soda
- Colors (derived from plants)
Don’t let the packaging phrase “sourced from plants,” mislead you. The crackers still contain cheddar cheese made from milk, and the ‘sourced from plants’ statement only relates to the colors found in the crackers.
Goldfish Cheddar and Goldfish Baby Cheddar
Goldfish Cheddar and Goldfish Baby Cheddar are made using the same ingredients, the only difference being that the Baby Cheddar crackers are miniature versions of the Cheddar fish.
The packaging of both states that the crackers are made using 100% real cheese, so it is pretty clear upfront that there is no chance that these are vegan.
Here is the ingredient list for Goldfish Cheddar and Goldfish Baby Cheddar:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Cheddar Cheese (made from cultured milk, salt, enzymes, annatto)
- Vegetable oils
- Salt
- Yeats
- Sugar
- Autolyzed Yeast Extract
- Paprika
- Spices
- Celery
- Onion Powder
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Baking Soda
These are definitely not vegan, and at least there is no doubt about it if you at least take a look at the front of the packaging!
Goldfish Parmesan
The packaging does state that crackers are made from 100% Parmesan cheese, so you know that it contains milk, but also animal rennet which is derived from calves.
Not only do these Goldfish Parmesan crackers contain Parmesan, but they contain butter as well, so it is something you should avoid.
The ingredients include:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Vegetable Oil
- Parmesan Cheese (made from milk, cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Salt
- Yeast
- Onion Powder
- Sugar
- Butter
- Autolyzed Yeast Extract
- Baking Soda
Of all the Goldfish flavors you should avoid, this is possibly the one you should steer clear of the most!
Goldfish Pretzel
You might at first hold out a little bit of hope that the Goldfish Pretzel flavor is vegan, as some pretzels are now made vegan too, and as it should not contain any cheese, but unfortunately, you will be disappointed.
Pretzels are made with yeast, water, and some flour, so on their own, they are vegan. However, taking a look at the ingredient list below, you will see that the Goldfish Pretzel crackers aren’t vegan:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Vegetable Oils
- Salt
- Baking Powder
- Malted Barley
- Flour
- Dextrose
- Nonfat Milk
With the inclusion of nonfat milk in the ingredient list, the Goldfish Pretzel is not vegan. If you are wanting the pretzel flavor, you will have to opt for plain vegan pretzels instead!
Goldfish Pizza
Goldfish Pizza is another flavor that states on the packaging that it is made from 100% real cheese, so once again it is pretty clear upfront that they are not vegan-friendly
Pizza itself is most commonly not vegan and made with real cheese. These should not be included in your vegan diet!
The included ingredients consist of the following:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Vegetable Oils
- Tomato Paste
- Cheddar Cheese (made with cultured milk, salt, enzymes)
- Salt
- Yeast
- Baking Soda
- Spices
- Celery
- Paprika Extract
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Onion Powder
Goldfish Pizza is another one to tick off of your shopping list if you are following a vegan diet!
Vegan Goldfish Alternatives
If you are wanting to enjoy some crackers like Goldfish, but want to instead choose something vegan-friendly, there are some great alternatives that will fit well into your diets and needs.
Here are some of the best vegan Goldfish alternatives:
1. Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Flavor Squares
The Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Flavor Squares are a great vegan alternative to Goldfish.
Containing only vegan ingredients, and no hidden surprises, these little squares pack a punch of cheddar flavor, you won’t believe they are free from dairy!
Being plant-based, they are made with the finest ingredients and are safe for many different diets. They allow you to enjoy the delicious cheesy cracker flavor you are after, without having to eat any compromising ingredients!
2. Plant Snacks Store Vegan Cheddar Mix
These vegan cheddar mix crackers are made from cassava, which is a root vegetable similar to a sweet potato.
Cassava is naturally gluten-free and is high in vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and fiber, so not only are they vegan, but they are also considered healthy too!
All the flavors of the cassava crackers are non-GMO and are free from the top 8 allergens, including milk, eggs, shellfish, and so on.
While vegan and packed with all the good stuff, they have a great taste and come in a variety of flavors, such as vegan cheddar. You won’t be missing out on anything with these crackers!
3. Real Food From The Ground Up Cauliflower And Butternut Squash Crackers
These crackers are made from butternut squash and other great veggies such as cauliflower. All the ingredients are plant-based and are certified gluten-free as well!
There are two great flavors to choose from, so you can definitely find the one that you like best!
Enjoy these as a healthy vegan snack during the day, or lay them out with some dip when you have friends over.
4. Back To Nature Crackers – Cheddarlicious
Enjoy the full and rich taste of cheddar cheese with these little square crackers, which are certified vegan!
The crackers manage to capture the taste of cheddar, without containing any dairy products.
Made with the perfect combination of safflower oil and wheat flour, these crackers are simple but so delicious. They are free from high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils and are non-GMO as well.
They are a great vegan alternative to traditional cheddar crackers, and you will still get to enjoy the cheesy flavor and wonderful crunch that other crackers have, just without any of the bad stuff, and while being completely vegan!
Final Thoughts
It is safe to say that Goldfish are not vegan, no matter the flavor you choose. All of the flavors of Goldfish contain some sort of dairy product, whether it is cheese or nonfat milk, so it is best to stay away from them altogether.
The good news is that there are some great vegan alternatives for you to try, so you never have to miss out!
Related Questions
Are Goldfish Vegetarian?
Goldfish are mainly vegetarian, as they mostly contain dairy products, but the Goldfish Parmesan flavor is a bit of an issue as Parmesan is made using animal rennet, which is sourced from the fourth stomach of immature calves.
Parmesan cheese is not considered to be vegetarian by many, and the Goldfish Parmesan crackers are made with 100% real Parmesan, so it is one flavor that should probably be avoided by both vegans and vegetarians.
Are Goldfish Dairy-Free?
Goldfish are not dairy-free. All of the flavors contain some type of dairy product, with most of them being made with 100% real cheese. If the Goldfish is not cheese flavored, such as Original or Pretzel, it still contains nonfat milk, which is obviously dairy.
If you are avoiding dairy, then you should not consume Goldfish crackers.
Are Goldfish Gluten-Free?
Goldfish are not gluten-free, so anyone who is intolerant or sensitive to gluten should not eat Goldfish crackers.
However, Goldfish have brought out Goldfish Puffs, which are larger than Goldfish crackers, but which are considered to be gluten-free.
Are Goldfish Kosher?
Goldfish crackers are not certified as kosher. There aren’t really any ingredients in the crackers that are non-kosher, but there are ingredients such as milk and cheese that come from animals, and Parmesan, which contains animal rennet, so this is why they are not considered kosher.
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