Extruded cereals
Cheerios Multi Grain Cheerios
584 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 20
Cheerios Multi Grain Cheerios scores 20 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 Brown sugar: 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
-
Old Country Style Muesli Whole Grain Hot or Cold Cereal Bob's Red Mill · 1.13 kg Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 84 out of 100 , 64 points higher -
Crispy Oats Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal Millville · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 69 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Cheerios General Mills · 8.9 oz Not ultra-processed · No brown sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal Cheerios · 2 × 1 lb 4.35 oz (20.35 oz) (576 g) Not ultra-processed · No brown sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Toasted Oats Whole Grain Oat Cereal Meijer · 18 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 59 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Multi Grain Cheerios
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Caramel color minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 20.5 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 385 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 7.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 80 = 20
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 385 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 82.1 g |
| Sugars | 20.5 g |
| Added sugars | 20.5 g |
| Fiber | 7.7 g |
| Protein | 7.7 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 1 serving (39 g)
Ingredients
- Whole Grain Oats
- Whole Grain Corn
- Sugar (high concern)
- Whole Grain Rice
- Corn Starch
- Brown Sugar Syrup (high concern)
- Salt
- Tripotassium Phosphate
- Color (caramel color, annatto extract) (not recognized)
- Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate
- Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients)
- A B Vitamin (niacinamide)
- Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate)
- A B Vitamin (calcium pantothenate)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate)
- A B Vitamin (folic acid)
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin A (palmitate)
- Vitamin D3
Label text, as published
Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Corn, Sugar, Whole Grain Rice, Corn Starch, Brown Sugar Syrup, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate, Color (caramel color, annatto extract). Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients), A B Vitamin (niacinamide), Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), A B Vitamin (calcium pantothenate), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate), A B Vitamin (folic acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin A (palmitate), Vitamin D3.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Gluten
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Paperboard, Paper and plastic
Context only: no points in v1.
More extruded cereals on GoodSwap
-
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 -
Honey'D Corn Flakes Nature's Path Organic · 300 Contains added sugarsCertified organicNo additives Score 52 out of 100 Okay -
Peanut Butter Magic Spoon · 7 oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 38 out of 100 Poor -
Chex cereal honey nut gluten free General Mills · 1 Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 13 out of 100 Bad
More from Cheerios
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
-
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.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