Source: BroBible
Summary
A TikTok user claims Ritz Crackers taste different now, with some viewers agreeing they are flatter, harder, and less buttery. Tasting Table reported that the 2026 version has less sugar and uses canola oil instead of hydrogenated cottonseed oil. The change in ingredients may affect texture and flavor. Customers have noticed the shift since 2023, with more complaints in 2025 and 2026. The FDA banned some hydrogenated oils in 2023, but it is unclear if this impacted Ritz. No official statement has been released.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Crackers used to be a snack. Now they’re a mystery.
People bite, then question the whole system.
Flavor changes are just another way to make you doubt everything.
It’s not the cracker—it’s the world.
Did The Ritz Cracker Recipe Change?
Ritz hasn’t announced any changes to its crackers, but many customers suspect something happened. Multiple online discussion threads, Reddit posts, and Facebook complaints say the crackers have changed “for the worse.” Tasting Table reports that there are a slew of online complaints about the snack brand in 2026. The publication cites one customer, who posted on Reddit and said, “The last couple boxes of Ritz I have got have been different. They took something out! Whatever makes that buttery flaky texture and taste.” Tasting Table’s own read of the ingredients list found that the 2026 version has less sugar than the 2015 one. In addition, Ritz switched out its hydrogenated cottonseed oil for canola oil.
What Are Hydrogenated Oils?
Hydrogenated oils are oils that have had hydrogen added to them to make them less likely to spoil. They’re usually shelf-stable at room temperature. Using a hydrogenated oil makes it significantly easier to mass-produce shelf-stable products. In addition, shortenings add certain texture enhancements, per Healthline. “During normal mixing and baking, wheat flour’s gluten strands stretch and form a matrix,” Healthline says. “This gives baked goods like bread a chewy, stretchy texture. But when a fat such as shortening is cut into flour before baking, it coats the gluten strands, preventing them from lengthening and forming a tough matrix. This results in a tender, crumbly, and flaky product.”
When Did Ritz Cracker Customers Notice A Shift?
Considering how many people are already convinced Ritz Crackers have permanently changed, a few asked a follow-up question: When did Ritz actually shift in texture and flavor? Some online reports suspect that Nabisco selling the brand to Mondelēz International in 2012 resulted in a shift in quality. However, Tasting Table uses the 2015 version of the product as an example, indicating that Ritz crackers were generally well-perceived at that time. Tasting Table says major complaints about the crackers changing go back as early as 2023, although a majority of customers fully noticed the issue in 2025 and 2026. At the end of 2023, the Food and Drug Administration partially banned certain hydrogenated oils. It’s unclear, however, if this affected Ritz crackers.
What Are Hydrogenated Oils?
Hydrogenated oils are oils that have had hydrogen added to them to make them less likely to spoil. They’re usually shelf-stable at room temperature. Using a hydrogenated oil makes it significantly easier to mass-produce shelf-stable products. In addition, shortenings add certain texture enhancements, per Healthline. “During normal mixing and baking, wheat flour’s gluten strands stretch and form a matrix,” Healthline says. “This gives baked goods like bread a chewy, stretchy texture. But when a fat such as shortening is cut into flour before baking, it coats the gluten strands, preventing them from lengthening and forming a tough matrix. This results in a tender, crumbly, and flaky product.”
When Did Ritz Cracker Customers Notice A Shift?
Considering how many people are already convinced Ritz Crackers have permanently changed, a few asked a follow-up question: When did Ritz actually shift in texture and flavor? Some online reports suspect that Nabisco selling the brand to Mondelēz International in 2012 resulted in a shift in quality. However, Tasting Table uses the 2015 version of the product as an example, indicating that Ritz crackers were generally well-perceived at that time. Tasting Table says major complaints about the crackers changing go back as early as 2023, although a majority of customers fully noticed the issue in 2025 and 2026. At the end of 2023, the Food and Drug Administration partially banned certain hydrogenated oils. It’s unclear, however, if this affected Ritz crackers.
Author: Evan Null
