Cheez-It crackers with protein are coming. Here's what to know

Cheez-It lovers can now get a serving of protein when munching on the crackers.

Landing on store shelves now and through the end of October: Cheez-It Protein Original crackers ($4.49 for a 7.3-ounce box), which deliver 7 grams of protein per serving (29 crackers). Along with the added protein, the new Cheez-Its promise the same crunch and cheesy flavor as traditional Cheez-Its, which have about 3 grams of protein.

"We're always looking for new ways to innovate with Cheez-It. The introduction of Cheez-It Protein offers our fans a convenient way to add protein to daily snacking routines in a format they know and love," said Nicole Sorensen, vice president of marketing for Cheez-It, in a news release. "This new offering brings their needs together in one delicious cracker, delivering 7g of protein per serving alongside the bold, cheesy flavor and satisfying crunch of Cheez-It."

Cheez-It is just the latest to respond to consumers' appetite for more protein in their diets. Earlier this year, PepsiCo launched Doritos Protein snacks in Nacho Cheese and Sweet & Tangy BBQ flavors. Dunkin' and Starbucks have added protein-rich beverages to their menus, too.

New Cheez-It Protein Original crackers nutritional information

The new Cheez-It Protein Original crackers, which are made with milk protein concentrate and skim milk cheese, also have less fat (5 grams) per serving, compared to 8 grams in original Cheez-Its. The new protein crackers also have fewer calories (140) and are lower in carbohydrates (16 grams), compared to original Cheez-Its (150 calories, 18 grams of carbs).

However, Cheez-It Protein Original crackers do have more sodium (260 milligrams) than original crackers (200 mg). A serving of the new Cheez-Its provides more protein than an egg (about 6 grams), according to news site Health.com.

However, snackers who have hypertension or are following a low-sodium diet may want want to avoid the crackers because of the higher sodium content, registered dietitian Alyssa Smolen told Health.com.

If you enjoy trying the wide variety of Cheez-It flavors, the most recent addition – Cheez-It Coors Light Beer Cheese crackers – is still available in some stores.

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at  mikegsnider  &  @mikegsnider.bsky.social  &  @mikesnider & [email protected].