Are Triscuits Bad For You?
Short answer
While Triscuits do provide some nutritional value, they also contain harmful ingredients. Consume them in moderation, and avoid the other flavor variations.
Recommended Alternative
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Nabisco Triscuit crackers are perceived as a healthy snack simply because of their whole wheat properties. At first glance, the Triscuit Original label looks promising with an ingredient list of only three items: whole wheat grains, vegetable oil (canola or soybean oil), and sea salt. A short list of ingredients you can pronounce is always a good sign. However, the production of vegetable oil is a major problem, not to mention the toxic additives in Triscuit’s other flavor variations. And although they may seem like a low-calorie snack (120 calories per serving), one serving allows for only six crackers. Let’s face it. If you’ve sat down with a box of these crackers before, you probably ate more than six.
Here is a look at the positive side. Triscuits are baked, not fried. They do not contain trans fats or sugar, which are found in most processed foods. Best of all, Triscuit crackers are made with whole wheat grains, which provides a generous amount of fiber. One serving offers 12% of the daily recommend value. Fiber normalizes bowel movements and keeps the digestive system healthy.
So what’s wrong with Triscuits? It mostly has to do with the second item on the ingredient list: vegetable oil. Apparently, both canola and soybean oil are used to make the crackers; both are harmful. Most vegetable oils come from GMOs. GMOs leave behind toxins in the body that can lead to chronic illnesses such as cancer. Aside from their genetically modified ingredients, these oils are dangerously processed. Part of the procedure includes a hexane bath. Hexane is a poisonous solvent that is often used as an industrial cleaner or degreaser, and is toxic when inhaled. How much hexane remains in the final product is unknown.
If you’re going to pick up a box of Triscuits, make sure you get the Original flavor with three ingredients. Many of the other variations contain harmful additives. For example, the Fire Roasted Tomato and Olive Oil flavors include red, yellow and blue food coloring, along with flavor enhancers and other wordy chemicals.
In conclusion, if you’re deciding between a bag of potato chips and few Triscuit crackers, go with the crackers. You will benefit from the dietary fiber, and you will avoid a lot of chemicals that are generally found in other processed foods. Just don’t eat too many.
Possible short-term side effects
Possible long-term side effects
- cancer
-
heart disease
-
obesity
-
inflammation
Ingredients to be aware of
- gmos
-
hexane
-
chemical additives in flavored varieties
Benefits
- baked, not fried
-
source of fiber
-
zero fat
-
zero sugar
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Mary's Gone Crackers
- Organic ingredients
- Rich in seeds
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
Learn More!
Please turn your Ad Blocker off to see this content. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Maddiebair
Published on: 09-02-2016
Last updated: 11-30-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Maddiebair
Published on: 09-02-2016
Last updated: 11-30-2023
Approved by 
