Extruded cereals
General Mills Chex Cinnamon gluten free
12 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 21
General Mills Chex Cinnamon gluten free scores 21 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Molasses: 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 breakfast cereals
-
Qi'a Gluten-Free Oatmeal – Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Nature's Path · 8 oz No added sugars · No seed oils Score 91 out of 100 , 70 points higher -
Go Cinnamon Vanilla Keto Friendly Grain Free Cereal Kashi · 7 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 62 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast Protein Cereal Catalina Crunch · 24 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 61 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Corn Chex General Mills · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 62 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Cinnamon apple cereal Cascadian Farms Organic · 12 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 66 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Chex Cinnamon gluten free
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Molasses minus 20 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 20 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Salt 1.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 400 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 5 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 79.5 = 20.5 → 21
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 82.5 g |
| Sugars | 20 g |
| Added sugars | 20 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Protein | 5 g |
| Salt | 1.4 g |
Serving: 1 cup (40 g)
Ingredients
- Whole Grain Rice
- Rice
- Sugar (high concern)
- Canola
- Sunflower Oil
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Molasses (high concern)
- Rosemary Extract
- Natural Flavor
- Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Tricalcium Phosphate
- Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients)
- Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate)
- A B Vitamin (niacinamide)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate)
- Vitamin A (palmitate)
- A B Vitamin (folic acid)
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D3
Label text, as published
Whole Grain Rice, Rice, Sugar, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil, Salt, Cinnamon, Molasses, Rosemary Extract, Natural Flavor. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Tricalcium Phosphate, Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients), Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), A B Vitamin (niacinamide), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate), Vitamin A (palmitate), A B Vitamin (folic acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Cardboard
Context only: no points in v1.
More extruded cereals on GoodSwap
-
Cheerios General Mills · 8.9 oz Contains added sugarsContains whole grains Score 65 out of 100 Good -
Honey Nut Cheerios General Mills · 10.8 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 17 out of 100 Bad -
Shredded Wheat Post · 18 oz Contains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Instant Oatmeal Flavor Variety Quaker Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 11 out of 100 Bad -
Toasted O’s Great Value · 12 oz Contains added sugarsNo additives Score 78 out of 100 Good -
Honey Nut cheerios General Mills · 3 lb Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad
More from General Mills
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
-
“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