Breakfast cereals
Chex Strawberry Vanilla Chex
19.8 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 17
Chex Strawberry Vanilla Chex scores 17 out of 100 (Bad) 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
-
No Added Sugar Vanilla Crisp Cereal Cascadian Farm · 12.5 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 68 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Vanilla crisp cereal Cascadian Farm · 58 g Less salt · No added sugars Score 73 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Corn Chex General Mills · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 62 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Rise & Shine Mix Strawberry Banana Nut Seven Sundays · 567 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 89 out of 100 , 72 points higher -
Go Cinnamon Vanilla Keto Friendly Grain Free Cereal Kashi · 7 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 62 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
Strawberry Vanilla Chex
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
- Calcium phosphate 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 1.6 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 425 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 83 = 17
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 | 425 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 | 2.5 g |
| Protein | 5 g |
| Salt | 1.6 g |
Serving: 1 cup (40 g)
Ingredients
- Whole Grain Rice
- Rice
- Sugar (high concern)
- Canola
- Sunflower Oil
- Salt
- Molasses (high concern)
- Color (vegetable juice) (not recognized)
- Natural Flavor
- Rosemary Extract
- Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness
- 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, Molasses, Color (vegetable juice), Natural Flavor, Rosemary Extract., Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness., 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.
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 -
Nature Valley Protein Nature Valley Marca Exclusiva · 200 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 43 out of 100 Okay -
Wheat Waffles Cereal 365 Everyday Value · 13 oz Contains added sugarsNo additivesContains whole grains Score 49 out of 100 Okay -
Pumpkin seed and flax granola cereal Simply Nature · 11.5 oz Contains added sugarsContains seed oilsCertified organicContains whole grains Score 45 out of 100 Okay
More from Chex
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
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
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
-
“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