Cereal bars
Nature Valley Soft Baked Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon Brown Sugar
7.44 oz (210 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 11
Nature Valley Soft Baked Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon Brown Sugar scores 11 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: 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
-
Organic Crunchy Cinnamon Squares 365 Whole Foods Market · 10 oz/283 g Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 57 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Qi'a Gluten-Free Oatmeal – Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Nature's Path · 8 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 91 out of 100 , 80 points higher -
Cinnamon apple cereal Cascadian Farms Organic · 12 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 66 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Catalina Crunch Cinnamon Toast Protein Cereal Catalina Crunch · 24 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 61 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
No Added Sugar Mixed Berry Cereal Cascadian Farm Organic · 12.2 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 66 out of 100 , 55 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Soft Baked Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 25.7 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 2.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 429 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 8.6 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 89 = 11
Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 429 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 17.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68.6 g |
| Sugars | 25.7 g |
| Added sugars | 22.9 g |
| Fiber | 8.6 g |
| Protein | 5.7 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 bar (35 g)
Ingredients
- Whole Grain Oats
- Whole Grain Wheat Flour
- Brown Sugar (high concern)
- Canola Oil
- Tapioca Syrup (high concern)
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Chicory Root Extract
- Sugar (high concern)
- Raisin Juice Concentrate
- Palm and Palm Kernel Oil
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Egg Whites
- Whey
- Natural Flavor
- Soy Lecithin
Label text, as published
Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Brown Sugar, Canola Oil, Tapioca Syrup, Vegetable Glycerin, Chicory Root Extract, Sugar, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Palm and Palm Kernel Oil, Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon, Egg Whites, Whey, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg
May contain: Peanuts
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Composite material, Paperboard
Context only: no points in v1.
More cereal bars on GoodSwap
-
Sweet & Salty Nut Peanut Chewy Granola Bar Nature Valley · 35 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 5 out of 100 Bad -
ORGANIC CHEWY GRANOLA BARS mixed berry Made Good · 144 g (6 * 24 g) Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Crunchy Granola Bars Oats 'n Honey Nature Valley · 98 bars Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Nutrigrain cereal bars Kellogg's · 37 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 4 out of 100 Bad -
Peanut Butter Banana Clif Bar · 2.4 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains whole grains Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Honey Oat Kind Breakfast · 1.76 oz/50 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 25 out of 100 Poor
More from Nature Valley
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
-
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
-
“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
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu