Goldfish Cheddar Jalapeño
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Snacks

Goldfish Cheddar Jalapeño

5.9 oz (167 g)

Score

Poor 35 out of 100 High confidence
  • High in salt
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • Contains whole grains

Why it scores 35

Goldfish Cheddar Jalapeño scores 35 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4, estimated): No NOVA group on file; estimated from 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers. Strong
  3. minus 9 points Salt 2.7 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

The Receipt

Cheddar Jalapeño

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar minus 20 points
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Canola oil minus 2.5 points
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Sunflower oil minus 1.5 points
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
  • Yeast extract minus 0.5 points
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
  • Calcium lactate minus 0.5 points
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
  • Calcium phosphate minus 0.5 points
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [9]
subtotal−31

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4, estimated) minus 18 points
    Strong No NOVA group on file; estimated from 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers. [8]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: firming agent, flavor enhancer and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [8]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
    Strong High in saturated fat. [10]
  • Salt 2.7 g / 100 g minus 9 points
    Strong Very high in salt. [11]
  • Energy 500 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
  • Fiber 3.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
    Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
  • Protein 10 g / 100 g plus 2 points
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal−13

TOTAL 35Poor

100 − 65 = 35

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

Can’t score above 79. High in fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]


GTIN 00014100052944 · 2025-11-30

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy500 kcal
Fat23.3 g
Saturated fat5 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates60 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber3.3 g
Protein10 g
Salt2.7 g

Serving: Amount per serving (30 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

MADE FROM: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL (CANOLA, SOYBEAN AND/OR SUNFLOWER), CHEDDAR CHEESE (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: CORN MALTODEXTRIN, GREEN AND RED BELL PEPPER POWDERS, OAT FIBER, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, SUGAR, YEAST, JALAPENO AND CHILI PEPPER EXTRACTS, LACTIC ACID, PAPRIKA, CALCIUM LACTATE, CAYENNE PEPPER, SPICES, CELERY, ONION POWDER, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA. CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Celery

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

    BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

    “replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”

    doi.org

  5. Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

    Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

    “These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

    doi.org

  6. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  8. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  9. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”

    who.int

  10. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk