Breakfast cereals
Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola
12 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 10
Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola scores 10 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better granola and muesli
-
Peanut Butter Protein Granola Great Value · 11 oz/311 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 69 points higher -
Peanut butter granola Magic Spoon · 8 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 68 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Cinnamon Peanut Butter Nut Granola Purely Elizabeth · 8 oz/227 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 53 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Protein Granola Peanut Butter Catalina Crunch · 227 g Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 53 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
LOVE CRUNCH PROTEIN PEANUT BUTTER Premium Organic Granola Nature's Path · 11 oz Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 48 out of 100 , 38 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Chocolate (sweetened, ingredient) minus 7.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 24.6 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 6.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 341 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 7.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 90 = 10
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 341 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 16.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 6.9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 66.2 g |
| Sugars | 24.6 g |
| Added sugars | 23.1 g |
| Fiber | 7.7 g |
| Protein | 10.8 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 0.667 cup (65 g)
Ingredients
- Rolled oats
- cane sugar (high concern)
- peanut butter
- brown rice crisp (brown rice flour, brown rice syrup, sea salt)
- semisweet chocolate chunks (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavor) (moderate concern)
- brown rice syrup (high concern)
- coconut oil
- peanuts
- cocoa powder
- natural flavors
- sea salt
- mixed tocopherols
Label text, as published
Rolled oats, cane sugar, peanut butter, brown rice crisp (brown rice flour, brown rice syrup, sea salt), semisweet chocolate chunks (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavor), brown rice syrup, coconut oil, peanuts, cocoa powder, natural flavors, sea salt, mixed tocopherols.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Peanuts, Soy, Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More breakfast cereals on GoodSwap
-
Grape-Nuts Cereal Post · 20.5 oz (1 lb 4.5 oz) 581 g No additivesContains whole grains Score 93 out of 100 Excellent -
Lightly Sweetened Maple Berry Blend Cereal Morning Summit · 1 box, 2 lb 6 oz High in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additives Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast Protein Cereal Catalina Crunch · 24 oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains seed oils Score 61 out of 100 Good -
Honey Nut Cheerios General Mills · 771 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Chocolate Almond Cereal Premier Protein · 9 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugars Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Crunchy Pecan Post · 19 oz Contains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 33 out of 100 Poor
More from Trader Joe's
-
Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 86 out of 100 Excellent -
Vanilla Almond Granola Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Dried Banana Chips Trader Joe's · 8 oz Score 45 out of 100 Okay -
50% Less Salt Dry Roasted & Salted Almonds Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 100 out of 100 Excellent
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
-
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
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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