Dr. Praeger’s

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, Dr. Praeger’s Rice Crusted Fish Sticks fall short in providing a clean eating option. This product, not certified as organic, includes ingredients that raise concerns such as dextrose, a form of added sugar, and corn starch, which is deemed a potentially harmful additive. Furthermore, the inclusion of canola oil, despite being expeller pressed, detracts from the product’s overall healthiness due to its classification as a harmful oil within our evaluation criteria.

The fish sticks are made from wild Alaskan Pollock fillets, which are then coated with a rice crust. The crust’s composition includes rice flour, whole grain amaranth flour, and yellow corn meal, with additional flavoring components such as garlic powder, onion powder, yeast extract, and a blend of spices. Raisin juice concentrate is employed as a sweetening agent. Although the product utilizes non-GMO ingredients, its non-organic nature impacts its score negatively.

The presence of dextrose is particularly concerning as it contributes to the product’s sugar content. While sugars are commonplace in many processed foods, our standards penalize the addition of sugars due to their potential health implications. Corn starch, another ingredient found in the rice crust, is flagged for its possible adverse effects, leading to further deductions in the product’s score.

Canola oil, used in the fish sticks, is often a subject of debate regarding its health benefits and risks. In this case, our criteria classify it as a harmful oil, which significantly affects the product’s rating.

Dr. Praeger’s Rice Crusted Fish Sticks, with a 1/5 green leaf rating, are recommended to be avoided for those seeking cleaner food alternatives. The product’s composition, featuring non-organic ingredients along with added sugars, harmful additives, and oils, does not align with the healthier options our website aims to promote.