Mary’s Gone Crackers

Rated at 2/5 green leaves, the ‘Mary’s Gone Crackers Real Thin Olive Oil + Black Pepper’ offers an organic and non-GMO option for those seeking cleaner food choices. However, the product’s ingredient list reveals several areas where it falls short of the health-conscious consumer’s ideal.

This cracker is crafted with an organic flour blend, including brown rice, tapioca, quinoa, and millet flours, which are nutritious alternatives to conventional wheat flour. It also contains organic chia seeds, a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. The use of virgin olive oil and sunflower oil aligns with healthier fat choices. However, the inclusion of palm fruit shortening raises concerns due to the environmental impact of palm oil production and its less favorable health implications compared to other oils.

Added sugars, such as cane sugar and tapioca syrup, are present in the product, detracting from its nutritional value. While sugars are commonplace in processed foods, their reduction or elimination is a step towards a cleaner label. Furthermore, xanthan gum, an additive used for texture and stability, is also found in the ingredients. While it is generally recognized as safe, there is debate about its place in a clean-eating diet.

The product manages to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and sticks to organic ingredients, which is commendable. However, the presence of added sugars, the choice of palm fruit shortening, and the inclusion of certain additives overshadow these positive attributes.

For a product to align more closely with the highest standards of clean eating, reformulation could be considered. This could involve removing or substituting the added sugars, reevaluating the use of palm fruit shortening, and considering alternatives to xanthan gum. Such changes would enhance the product’s appeal to those committed to consuming the cleanest foods possible.