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General Mills Cheerios
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Extruded cereals

General Mills Cheerios

8.9 oz

Good out of 100 High confidence
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains whole grains
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Why it scores 65

General Mills Cheerios scores 65 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Processed (NOVA 3): Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. Emerging
  3. Salt 1.2 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better breakfast cereals

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Cheerios

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Potassium phosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [4]
subtotal−22.5

Processing

  • Processed (NOVA 3)
    Emerging Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. [5]
subtotal−8

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 5.1 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 1.3 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some saturated fat. [6]
  • Salt 1.2 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [7]
  • Energy 359 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
  • Fiber 10.3 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
  • Protein 12.8 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal−5
TOTAL 65Good

100 − 35.5 = 64.5 → 65

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00016000275263 · 2026-08-26

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy359 kcal
Fat6.4 g
Saturated fat1.3 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates74.4 g
Sugars5.1 g
Added sugars2.6 g
Fiber10.3 g
Protein12.8 g
Salt1.2 g

Serving: 1 ½ cup (39 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

Whole Grain Oats. Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate. 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 A (palmitate), Vitamin B₁ (thiamin mononitrate), A B Vitamin (folic acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Gluten

  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Cardboard

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest extruded cereals in the US

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “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

  5. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  7. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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