Cereals and their products
Trader Joe's Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal
350 g/12.3 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 39
Trader Joe's Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal scores 39 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 34.3 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 oatmeal and hot cereal
-
Apple Cinnamon Pecan Superfood Instant Oatmeal Purely Elizabeth · 2 oz/57 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
INSTANT OATMEAL apple pieces & cinnamon Bob's Red Mill · 280 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 74 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Apple Cinnamon Pecan Superfood Oats Purely Elizabeth · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
A m apple cinnamon oats RXBAR · 2.18 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 75 out of 100 , 36 points higher -
Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon Quaker · 20 - 1.51 oz (43 g) packets, Net wt 30.3 oz (1 lb 14 oz) 860 g Not ultra-processed · No guar gum Score 68 out of 100 , 29 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Guar gum minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 34.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.2 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 371 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 8.6 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 61.5 = 38.5 → 39
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). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 371 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 77.1 g |
| Sugars | 34.3 g |
| Added sugars | 25.7 g |
| Fiber | 8.6 g |
| Protein | 8.6 g |
| Salt | 1.2 g |
Serving: 1 pouch (35 g)
Ingredients
- WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS (WITH OAT BRAN)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- DEHYDRATED APPLES (TREATED WITH ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE TO PRESERVE COLOR)
- CINNAMON
- SALT
- CALCIUM CARBONATE
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- CITRIC ACID
- GUAR GUM
- FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE
- (SOURCE OF IRON) (not recognized)
- NIACINAMIDE
- PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE
- (B6) RIBOFLAVIN
- VITAMIN A PALMITATE
- THIAMIN MONONITRATE
- FOLIC ACID
Label text, as published
WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS (WITH OAT BRAN), SUGAR, DEHYDRATED APPLES (TREATED WITH ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE TO PRESERVE COLOR), CINNAMON, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, GUAR GUM, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE, (SOURCE OF IRON), NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, (B6) RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, FOLIC ACID.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cereals and their products on GoodSwap
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healthy grains granola Peanut Butter Kind · 11 oz Contains added sugarsSeed-oil freeContains whole grains Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Rice Puffs Nature's Path · 170 gr No additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Gluten free spiced apple + flax instant oatmeal Nature's Path Organic · 11.3 oz Contains added sugarsCertified organicNo additivesContains whole grains Score 47 out of 100 Okay -
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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 -
Sliced Seedy Multigrain Bread Trader Joe's · 16 oz (1 lb) 454 g Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries Strawberry Trader Joe's · 11 oz Score 8 out of 100 Bad
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
-
“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