Puffed cereals
Trader Joe's Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal
16 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 37
Trader Joe's Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal scores 37 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 14 points Sugars 33.3 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better breakfast cereals
-
Toasted Oats Simple Truth · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 77 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Purely O's Cereal Cascadian Farms · 8.6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 78 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Original Wheat Berry Flakes Uncle Sam · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 78 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Old Country Style Muesli Whole Grain Hot or Cold Cereal Bob's Red Mill · 1.13 kg Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 84 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Malt-O-Meal original Quick Cooking Hot Wheat Cereal Malt O Meal · 36 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 42 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 33.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.2 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 381 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 4.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 63 = 37
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 381 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.6 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 83.3 g |
| Sugars | 33.3 g |
| Added sugars | 31 g |
| Fiber | 4.8 g |
| Protein | 4.8 g |
| Salt | 1.2 g |
Serving: 1 cup (42 g)
Ingredients
- CORN FLOUR
- CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- DEGERMED YELLOW CORN MEAL
- OAT FLOUR
- CANOLA
- SUNFLOWER OIL
- SEA SALT
- CALCIUM CARBONATE
- VEGETABLE JUICE (COLOR)
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- VITAMIN AND MINERAL BLEND (FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE, NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, FOLIC ACID)
- MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (TO PRESERVE)
- ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR)
Label text, as published
CORN FLOUR, CANE SUGAR, DEGERMED YELLOW CORN MEAL, OAT FLOUR, CANOLA AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL, SEA SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, VEGETABLE JUICE (COLOR), NATURAL FLAVORS, VITAMIN AND MINERAL BLEND (FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE, NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, FOLIC ACID), MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (TO PRESERVE), ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR)
Allergens and diets
Contains: Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More puffed cereals on GoodSwap
-
Crispy Rice Toasted Rice Cereal Gluten Free Millville Contains added sugars Score 40 out of 100 Okay -
Koala Crisp Organic Nature's Path EnviroKidz · 325 gramos Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsCertified organic Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Sweetened Naturally & Artificially Flavored Rice Cereal with Real Cocoa Cocoa Pebbles · 311 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 10 out of 100 Bad -
Eat Your Mouth Off Mouth Off · 7.4 oz/209 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains seed oils Score 54 out of 100 Okay
More from Trader Joe's
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org