Crackers fall flat

Tossing one of the new Ritz Crackerfuls into a lunch box might seem like a sure winner, but young tasters at our back-to-school reader food panel meeting wouldn’t recommend it. The adults who ate the new snacks weren’t impressed either.

“Wow. I didn’t think that they could do anything more with crackers … but then came foamy, artificial cheese,” said 14-year-old Bryton Martin.

Tasters chomped both the Classic Cheddar and Four Cheese flavors, but neither one was a winner.

The children, ranging in age from 6 to 14, gave the crackers three-star rating. That’s fair on our five-star scale. Adults gave the cheese-filled crackers just two stars.

Among the kids, Carter Martin gave them a major thumbs-down: “Completely inedible. The center is awful.”

Pierce Hubbard liked the Ritz part: “Good cracker, but I’d leave the cheese in the factory.”

Only his younger sister Samantha Hubbard, 6, was enthusiastic about the offering: “Two thumbs up!”

As for the adults in our group, they were casting about for ways to describe their dislike.

“Slightly grainy texture and bland! The cracker flavor overpowers the cheese. I prefer the old … cheese spread with the crackers and plastic knife,” said Marcia Oranen.

Marilyn Moore said she’d be happier with soda crackers and Velveeta.

There were a few people who liked the crackers.

“Crunchy, flavorful crackers, but the … filling is a bit lacking in the flavor department and has a gritty consistency,” said Lindi Messenger.

Ritz Crackerfuls, Classic Cheddar

Price: $3.49 per 6-ounce package

Nutrition per serving: 130 calories, 7 grams fat (2 grams saturated), 2 grams protein, 17 grams carbohydrate, 5 milligrams cholesterol, 3 grams dietary fiber, 220 milligrams sodium.

Kids

Taste: • • •

Adults

Taste: • •

Value: • 1/2

Comments: “Not much flavor.” – Bridget Plese, 10

“I like the crackers, but the cheese has an indistinguishable flavor and on it own it is actually very gritty.” – Skip Hubbard

“(The cheese) was creamy, but not enough flavor. The cracker was good.” – Aimee Plese

Ritz Crackerfuls, Four Cheese

Price: $3.49 per 6-ounce package

Nutrition per serving: 130 calories, 7 grams fat (2 grams saturated), 2 grams protein, 17 grams carbohydrate, 5 milligrams cholesterol, 3 grams dietary fiber, 230 milligrams sodium.

Kids

Taste: • • •

Adults

Taste: • •

Value: • 1/2

Comments: “Plain, stale and just awful.” – Carter Martin, 11

“The truth is – I don’t even know what the filling is.” – Marilyn Moore

“Unbelievably dry, even for a cracker.” – Andy Hoye