Extruded cereals
Cheerios minis
18.8 oz
Score
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 33
Cheerios minis scores 33 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 Honey: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 14 points Sugars 33.6 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
-
Toasted Oats Simple Truth · 12 oz Less sugar · No seed oils Score 77 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Morning O's 365 · 13 servings Less sugar · No seed oils Score 75 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Purely O's Cereal Cascadian Farms · 8.6 oz Less sugar · No seed oils Score 78 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps One Degree Organic Foods · 227 g Less sugar · No seed oils Score 74 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Vanilla crisp cereal Cascadian Farm · 58 g Less sugar · No added sugars Score 73 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
Cheerios minis
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Honey minus 20 points
- Brown sugar minus 10 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 33.6 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 381 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 7.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 67 = 33
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). [5]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 381 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 81.2 g |
| Sugars | 33.6 g |
| Added sugars | 33 g |
| Fiber | 7.7 g |
| Protein | 8.8 g |
| Salt | 1.4 g |
Serving: 1 portion (37 g)
Ingredients
- Whole Grain Oats
- Sugar (high concern)
- Corn Starch
- Honey (high concern)
- Brown Sugar Syrup (high concern)
- Salt
- Tripotassium Phosphate
- Canola
- Sunflower Oil
- Natural Almond Flavor
- Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate
- Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate)
- Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients)
- 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 Oats, Sugar, Corn Starch, Honey, Brown Sugar Syrup, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate, Canola and/or Sunflower Oil, Natural Almond Flavor. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness.Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients), 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: Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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 -
Chex Rice, Corn & Wheat Cereals Chex · 54.25 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains whole grains Score 36 out of 100 Poor -
Instant Oatmeal Flavor Variety Quaker Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 11 out of 100 Bad -
Chex Cinnamon gluten free General Mills · 12 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 21 out of 100 Poor
More from Cheerios
-
Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal Cheerios · 2 × 1 lb 4.35 oz (20.35 oz) (576 g) Score 65 out of 100 Good -
Multi Grain Cheerios Cheerios · 510 g Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Honey Nut Cheerios Cheerios · 1.8 oz Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Cheerios Veggie Blends Blueberry Banana Cheerios · 18 oz Score 20 out of 100 Poor
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
-
“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
-
“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