GRAHAM CRACKERS

Information updated June 2023

Graham Crackers are traditionally made with Graham Flour, a coarse-ground whole wheat flour. The Graham Crackers and Flour are named after The Reverend Sylvester Graham who promoted a plant-based diet and developed items using whole wheat flour like Graham Bread and Graham Crackers.

Here’s a look at ingredients for homemade Graham Crackers so we have something with which to compare the ingredients of commercial Graham Crackers. Ingredients which are not in homemade Graham Crackers are designated as Not In Kitchen™ when making homemade Graham Crackers.

Nabisco — The National Biscuit Company — was one of the first companies to mass manufacture Graham Crackers. Here’s a snapshot of two Nabisco Graham Cracker offerings today >> Honey Maid Grahams — below left — and Original Nabisco Grahams — below right. (Source for ingredients: Mondelez Snackworks Web site 6/23)

Both of these Nabisco Graham Crackers contain or may contain Canola Oil which is Not In Kitchen when making homemade Graham Crackers. The Honey Maid contain Soybean Oil and/or Canola Oil, Soy Lecithin and are banned at Whole Foods for Artificial Flavor. (Source for banned ingredients: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 6/23) Original Nabisco Grahams contain Canola Oil and Palm Oil which are also ingredients Not In Kitchen.

KELLOGG’S GRAHAM CRACKER COMPARISON: Following is a comparison The Kellogg Company’s Grahams Bug Bites vs. Kellogg’s Grahams Original. (Sources: Kellogg’s and Kellogg’s Away From Home Web sites 6/23)

PEPPERIDGE FARM GOLDFISH GRAHAMS CONTAIN MULTIPLE INGREDIENTS NOT IN KITCHEN: Below is a look at what’s in Campebell’s-owned Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Grahams >> these products include ingredients Not In Kitchen such as Soybean Oil, Soy Lecithin, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Invert Sugar, Invert Syrup, Palm Kernel Oil and commercial Natural Flavors. (Source: Campbell’s Pepperidge Farm Web site 6/23)

GENERAL MILLS HAS ERRONEOUS INFORMATION ONLINE REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF SYNTHETIC PRESERVATIVES IN ANNIE’S BUNNY GRAHAMS BIRTHDAY CAKE, HONEY BUNNY GRAHAMS: General Mills states these products contain “No preservatives” . . . but they both contain FDA-recognized preservatives which are synthesized in laboratories including Citric Acid and Tocopherols. (Sources: General Mills Annie’s Web site 6/23; FDA 2023)

Read more here about Manufactured Citric Acid which is not made from citrus fruits, but is made using Black Mold (a.k.a. Aspergillus niger). Unless specifically noted as “naturally-occurring Citric Acid”, which is derived from real citrus, it is Manufactured Citric Acid.

manufactured citric acid

AMAZON’S FOOD BRAND — HAPPY BELLY — MAKES GRAHAM CRACKERS WHICH CONTAIN AN INGREDIENT BANNED BY AMAZON-OWNED WHOLE FOODS: These Amazon Cinnamon Graham Crackers and Honey Graham Crackers seen below both contain TBHQ which is a seemingly innocuous acronym for Tertiary Butylhydroquinone which is a Chemical Preservative that is banned at Whole Foods who cites it as “Unacceptable in food”. (Sources: Amazon Web site 6/23; Amazon Whole Foods Web site 6/23)

Seen below, these Whole Foods 365 Graham Crackers would be Closest To Homemade if they did not contain Canola Oil. The convenient ‘and/or’ term which allow manufacturers to not fully disclose which exact ingredients are used makes it impossible to know exactly which oil(s) are contained in these Graham Crackers. (Source: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 6/23)

GRAHAM SNACKS FOR TODDLERS: Following is a look at three toddler-targeted Graham Snacks which each contain ingredients Not In Kitchen when making homemade Graham Crackers: Nabisco Teddy Grahams, Earth’s Best Organic Crunchin’ Grahams and Gerber Cinnamon Graham Animal Crackers. (Sources for ingredients: Brand Web sites 6/23)