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Ritz BITS Cheese
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Ritz BITS Cheese

85 g

Bad out of 100 Low confidence

This label may have changed Our sources list different ingredients for it, and we can’t tell which is current. Check the pack.

  • Not permitted in some countries
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • Contains palm oil
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 8

Ritz BITS Cheese scores 8 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Partially hydrogenated oil: Industrial trans fat raises LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk. Regulatory
  2. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong

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

Better crackers

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

BITS Cheese

START100

Ingredients

  • Partially hydrogenated oil
    Regulatory Industrial trans fat raises LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk. [1][2][3][4]
  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [5][6][7]
  • Vegetable oil (unspecified)
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [8][9][10][11]
  • Soybean oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [8][9][10][11]
  • Canola oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [8][9][10][11]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [12]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), emulsifier, flavoring and industrial fat. [12]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 12.9 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [5]
  • Saturated fat 9.7 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [13]
  • Salt 1.3 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [14]
  • Energy 516 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [6]
subtotal−20
TOTAL 8Bad

100 − 92.5 = 7.5 → 8

Can’t score above 25. Contains partially hydrogenated oil, whose use in food has been revoked in the US. [2][15]

Can’t score above 49. Contains partially hydrogenated oil, an ingredient of very high concern. [1][2][3][4]

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [5][6][7]

Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [16]

GTIN 00044000006778 · 2026-03-05

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Low confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy516 kcal
Fat29 g
Saturated fat9.7 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates61.3 g
Sugars12.9 g
Added sugars6.9 g
Fiber0 g
Protein6.5 g
Salt1.3 g

Serving: 13 sandwiches (29 g)

Ingredients

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

UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN AND/OR CANOLA AND/OR PALM AND/OR PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL), PALM OIL, SUGAR, WHEY, SUNFLOWER OIL, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CHEDDAR CHEESE POWDER (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), SALT, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE (STABILIZER), SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, COLOR (TURMERIC EXTRACT AND ANNATTO EXTRACT), DRIED YEAST, BUTTERMILK, LACTIC ACID, VINEGAR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Peanuts, Soy, Wheat, Gluten

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Plastic

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest cookies in the US

More from Ritz

Sources

  1. Trans Fat

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Apr 30, 2024 · Regulator

    “In 2015, the FDA took the significant step of determining that PHOs, then the major source of artificial trans fat in the food supply, are no longer “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS.”

    fda.gov

  2. Revocation of Uses of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods (88 FR 53764)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Aug 9, 2023 · Law

    “in light of our determination that PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS).”

    federalregister.gov

  3. Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/649 of 24 April 2019 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 as regards trans fat, other than trans fat naturally occurring in fat of animal origin

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 24, 2019 · Law

    “Maximum 2 grams per 100 grams of fat in food intended for the final consumer and food intended for supply to retail”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  4. Trans fat (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · Jan 24, 2024 · Agency assessment

    “WHO’s recommendation for adults is to limit consumption of trans fat to less than 1% of total energy intake, which is less than 2.2 g per day for a 2000-calorie diet.”

    who.int

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

    BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  10. 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

  11. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Notice of Modification: Prohibiting the Use of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods

    Health Canada · Sep 17, 2018 · Regulator

    “On September 17, 2018, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) were banned by adding them to Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and other Adulterating Substances in Foods.”

    canada.ca

  16. 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

  17. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 of 14 January 2022 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as regards the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Jan 14, 2022 · Law

    “titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  18. Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Jul 3, 2024 · Law

    “This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”

    federalregister.gov

  19. Color Additive Petition From Center for Science in the Public Interest, et al.; Request To Revoke Color Additive Listing for Use of FD&C Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs (90 FR 4628)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Jan 16, 2025 · Law

    “This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”

    federalregister.gov

  20. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 30, 2009 · Law

    “cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  21. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  22. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  23. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu