Is Gorton's Healthier Than Van de Kamp's? Fillet vs Minced

Is Gorton's healthier than Van de Kamp's? The labels don't settle it: both list 230 calories and 10 g protein per serving, and 430 mg vs 440 mg sodium, but on different serving sizes (4 sticks, 106 g vs 6 sticks, 95 g).

The Gorton's label names Alaskan Pollock fillets as its first ingredient, and Van de Kamp's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks (44 count) name minced pollock. Per serving, the two labels list nearly the same sodium, 430 mg and 440 mg, but the serving sizes differ, so this comparison also converts both labels to 100 g. The facts below are placed side by side so you can decide which label details matter to you.

Key takeaways

• Gorton's lists 430 mg sodium per 4-stick (106 g) serving, 19% DV. Van de Kamp's lists 440 mg sodium per 6-stick (95 g) serving, 19% DV.
• Per 100 g, derived from those labels, the figures are about 406 mg for Gorton's and about 463 mg for Van de Kamp's.
• Gorton's lists 1 g added sugar and 110 mg of EPA and DHA omega-3 per serving.
• Van de Kamp's lists less than 1 g added sugar per serving, and its ingredient list includes sugar and dextrose. No omega-3 figure is disclosed on its product page.
• The first ingredient line reads 'Alaskan Pollock fillets' for Gorton's and 'Minced Pollock' for Van de Kamp's.

Factor	Gorton's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks	Van de Kamp's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks
Form (first ingredient)	Alaskan Pollock fillets	Minced Pollock
Serving size	4 sticks (106 g)	6 sticks (95 g)
Sodium per serving	430 mg (19% DV)	440 mg (19% DV)
Sodium per 100 g (derived)	About 406 mg	About 463 mg
Added sugar per serving	1 g (2% DV)	Less than 1 g (1% DV)
Omega-3 (EPA and DHA)	110 mg per serving	Not disclosed
Allergens	Contains pollock, wheat, and milk	Not disclosed
Kosher claim	No kosher claim stated on the label text covered here	Kosher, per the product page

Are Gorton's and Van de Kamp's Fish Sticks Made From Fillets or Minced Pollock?

The form of the fish is printed on each package. The Gorton's ingredient list begins with 'Alaskan Pollock fillets,' and the Van de Kamp's ingredient list begins with 'Minced Pollock.' Each label names its form in the first ingredient line, so the difference is visible on the package itself.

Gorton's describes its product as 'Made from wild-caught Alaskan Pollock and coated in our classic, crunchy breadcrumbs.' Van de Kamp's page describes the sticks as 'golden-breaded with a deliciously crunchy texture,' and adds: 'Wild caught, they are also kosher and sealed in a freshness pouch.'

Neither label states what share of each stick is fish and what share is breading, by weight, so the fish-to-coating ratio cannot be compared from these labels. The labels do not explain how either form is produced.

How Do Gorton's and Van de Kamp's Serving Sizes Differ on the Label?

Gorton's labels a serving as 4 sticks (106 g), while Van de Kamp's labels a serving as 6 sticks (95 g). Both list 230 calories per serving.

Gorton's package lists 5 servings per container. Van de Kamp's product page lists about 3 servings per container, which does not match a 44-count package at 6 sticks per serving, so read that line on the package in hand. Because the serving sizes are different, any per-serving number, including sodium, sugar, and fat, describes a different amount of product for each brand.

A simple label check helps when comparing any two packages:

• Read the serving size line first, including the stick count and the gram weight.
• Note the servings per container, so you know how much product the package holds.
• Convert the nutrient to a per 100 g amount when serving sizes differ.
• Compare the same nutrient on both labels before drawing conclusions.

How Much Sodium Is in Gorton's vs Van de Kamp's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks?

Gorton's lists 430 mg sodium per 4-stick (106 g) serving, 19% DV; Van de Kamp's lists 440 mg per 6-stick (95 g) serving, 19% DV. Per 100 g, the derived figures are about 406 mg for Gorton's and about 463 mg for Van de Kamp's.

The FDA sets the Daily Value for sodium at less than 2,300 milligrams per day. Its Sodium in Your Diet guidance states that 5% DV or less of sodium per serving is considered low, and 20% DV or more is considered high. Both fish sticks are at 19% DV per serving, which is below the 20% DV level the FDA calls high.

The same FDA guidance states, 'For children under age 14, recommended limits are even lower,' so a serving that looks moderate for an adult may represent a larger share of a child's limit.

The per 100 g figures are arithmetic from the two printed labels, not laboratory measurements. For a sodium comparison on a different product type, see What's in Bush's vs B&M Baked Beans? 570 vs 390mg Sodium.

How Much Added Sugar Is in Gorton's vs Van de Kamp's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks?

Gorton's: 1 g added sugar per 4 sticks (106 g), 2% DV, while Van de Kamp's lists less than 1 g added sugar per 6-stick (95 g) serving (1% DV).

Gorton's total sugars are 2 g per serving, and Van de Kamp's total sugars are less than 1 g. The Gorton's ingredient list includes sugar in the breadcrumb coating. The Van de Kamp's ingredient list includes sugar and dextrose, both listed among ingredients at less than 2% of the product.

Because Van de Kamp's figure is shown as less than 1 g, neither its exact amount nor an exact per 100 g value can be derived from the label. For Gorton's, 1 g over 106 g works out to about 0.9 g per 100 g. For another frozen kids' staple, see Tyson vs Perdue Dino Nuggets: Which Is Healthier? 13 g vs 9 g Protein.

How Much Omega-3 Is in Gorton's vs Van de Kamp's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks?

Gorton's labels 110 mg of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids per serving. No EPA and DHA figure is disclosed on the Van de Kamp's product page, so the two labels cannot be compared on this point and should not be read as equivalent.

The polyunsaturated fat line is a different measurement. Gorton's lists 3 g polyunsaturated fat per serving and Van de Kamp's lists 6 g. Polyunsaturated fat includes many fats beyond EPA and DHA, so those numbers cannot stand in for omega-3 content.

The FDA's Advice about Eating Fish describes DHA and EPA as omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. Omega-3 content varies by fish species and product, so a label figure describes only the product printed on that package.

What Ingredients Are in Gorton's vs Van de Kamp's Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks?

Gorton's ingredients are Alaskan Pollock fillets, a breadcrumb coating, and vegetable oil. Van de Kamp's ingredients begin with minced pollock, followed by wheat flour, water, soybean oil, and enriched wheat flour. Ingredient lists show what is used, not how much of each item is present.

The Gorton's page states the sticks are 'always prepared with no fillers, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or hydrogenated oils.' Its breadcrumb coating lists wheat flour, water, yellow corn flour, sugar, salt, onion powder, whey, yeast, baking powder, and natural flavor. Its vegetable oil is listed as canola and/or soybean oil.

The Van de Kamp's ingredient list includes, at less than 2% of the product, sugar, modified corn starch, salt, yeast, dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, garlic powder, onion powder, spice, paprika, and monocalcium phosphate. Its enriched wheat flour lists niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid.

The main differences on the labels are:

• Gorton's breading includes whey and natural flavor, which do not appear on the Van de Kamp's ingredient list.
• Van de Kamp's includes modified corn starch, dextrose, and several leavening and seasoning ingredients listed below 2%.
• Gorton's oil is listed as canola and/or soybean oil, while Van de Kamp's oil is soybean oil.
• Van de Kamp's lists enriched wheat flour with added vitamins and minerals.

What Do the Allergen and Kosher Claims on Each Package Say?

Gorton's 'CONTAINS' statement lists pollock, wheat, and milk. Van de Kamp's allergen statement is not disclosed on its product page. Allergen statements can change between production runs, so check the package in hand.

Van de Kamp's page states that the sticks are kosher. The Gorton's label text covered here does not state a kosher claim. Van de Kamp's MSC certification status is not disclosed on its brand page, so any sustainability certification should be confirmed on the package itself.

People who avoid fish, wheat, or milk should note that the Gorton's statement names all three. Van de Kamp's allergen information is not disclosed in the material used for this article, so it should be read from the package.

What Do FDA Fish Guidelines Say About Pollock for Children and Families?

The FDA lists pollock on its 'Best Choice' list of fish, and it recommends that children eat 2 servings a week from the 'Best Choices' list, according to its fish advice for families. Pollock is among the Best Choices that the FDA describes as lower in mercury for children who eat more fish.

The FDA gives approximate serving sizes for children: 1 ounce at ages 1 to 3, 2 ounces at ages 4 to 7, 3 ounces at ages 8 to 10, and 4 ounces at age 11. These figures refer to fish in general. A breaded stick includes coating, so the label serving weights of 106 g (Gorton's) and 95 g (Van de Kamp's) are not directly comparable to a plain fish serving.

Mercury test results for these specific products are not disclosed, so the FDA's general classification is the only regulator guidance that applies to pollock here.

How Can You Compare Fish Stick Labels Yourself Using Sodium and Sugar Per 100 g?

To convert any label to 100 g, divide the nutrient amount by the serving weight in grams, then multiply by 100. Using the Gorton's sodium figure, 430 mg divided by 106 g and multiplied by 100 gives about 406 mg per 100 g. Using the Van de Kamp's figure, 440 mg divided by 95 g and multiplied by 100 gives about 463 mg per 100 g.

For added sugar, Gorton's 1 g over 106 g equals about 0.9 g per 100 g. Van de Kamp's label says less than 1 g, so its per 100 g value cannot be converted to an exact figure.

A practical checklist:

• Find the serving weight in grams, not only the household measure.
• Divide the nutrient by the grams, then multiply by 100.
• Keep track of rounding, since labels show values such as 'less than 1 g.'
• Compare only the same nutrient, measured the same way, on both labels.

To check the label of any fish stick package yourself, scan the barcode with the Aurascan food-label scanner.