Breakfast cereals
Chex Peanut Butter Chex
12.2 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 39
Chex Peanut Butter Chex 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 11 points Sugars 22 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
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Old Country Style Muesli Whole Grain Hot or Cold Cereal Bob's Red Mill · 1.13 kg Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 84 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Classic Bircher Apple Cinnamon Almond Muesli Cereal Seven Sundays · 12 oz (340 g) Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 97 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Farmers Market Mix Seven Sundays · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
Blueberry Almond Crunch Cereal Cascadian Farm Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Malt-O-Meal original Quick Cooking Hot Wheat Cereal Malt O Meal · 36 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 40 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Peanut Butter Chex
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
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 22 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 1.2 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.7 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 415 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 4.9 g / 100 g plus 2 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 salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 415 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 11 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 75.6 g |
| Sugars | 22 g |
| Added sugars | 22 g |
| Fiber | 4.9 g |
| Protein | 7.3 g |
| Salt | 1.7 g |
Serving: 1 serving (41 g)
Ingredients
- Whole Grain Corn
- Corn Meal
- Sugar (high concern)
- Peanut Butter (peanuts, sea salt)
- Corn Starch
- Canola
- Sunflower Oil
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Natural Flavor
- Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate
- Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients)
- Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate)
- A B Vitamin (niacinamide)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate)
- Vitamin A (palmitate)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- A B Vitamin (folic acid)
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D3
Label text, as published
Whole Grain Corn, Corn Meal, Sugar, Peanut Butter (peanuts, sea salt), Corn Starch, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil, Salt, Baking Soda, Natural Flavor. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients), Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), A B Vitamin (niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate), Vitamin A (palmitate), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), A B Vitamin (folic acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Peanuts
- 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 Oat Crunch Cereal Cascadian Farm Organic · 382 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsCertified organic Score 23 out of 100 Poor -
Fruity Pebbles Post · 27.5 oz/779 g Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 10 out of 100 Bad -
Sweet and Salty Nut Granola Bars Peanut Nature Valley · 43.2 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 5 out of 100 Bad
More from Chex
-
Traditional Chex Mix Snack Mix Chex · 1 serving Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Chex Mix Snack Mix Original Recipe Chex · 13.5 oz Score 9 out of 100 Bad -
Traditional Chex Mix Snack Mix Chex · 39 servings Score 9 out of 100 Bad -
Sweetened Rice Cereal with Natural Chocolate Flavor Chex · 12.8 oz (362 g) Score 19 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
-
“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
-
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