Ritz Bits Peanut Butter — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Ritz Bits Peanut Butter by Ritz DUMP — score 17/90.

Hydrogenated oil, refined flour, and added sugar in a hyper-palatable snack cracker. The 'real peanut butter' is cut with hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Why this verdict

• Contains hydrogenated vegetable oil, a trans-fat source linked to heart disease
• Built on refined enriched flour with little fiber or real nutrition
• Hyper-palatable triad: added sugar, refined oil, and refined starch
• Three refined/added sugars-and-oils stacked (canola, palm, hydrogenated oil, sugar, dextrose)
• Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) snack engineered for craving, not nourishment

Ingredients (10)

• unbleached enriched flour (moderate) — Refined wheat flour with the bran and germ stripped, then re-fortified with a few synthetic vitamins. Fast carbohydrate, low fiber.
• Peanut butter (with hydrogenated vegetable oil) (concerning) — Real peanuts, but cut with hydrogenated oil and salt; the hydrogenation introduces trans fat.
• Hydrogenated vegetable oil (avoid) — Partially hydrogenated fat and trans-fat source — the decisive negative.
• CANOLA OIL (moderate) — Refined vegetable oil.
• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• Palm Oil (moderate) — Saturated-fat-heavy oil used in the crust.
• Dextrose (caution) — Second added sweetener.
• Leavening (calcium phosphate, baking soda) (safe) — Standard rising agents, harmless in these amounts.
• Salt (moderate) — Used in moderation, might exceed necessary amount.
• Soy Lecithin (safe) — Common emulsifier, generally benign in these amounts.