Breakfast cereals
Pepsico Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal
15.1 oz (430 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains artificial flavors
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 17
Pepsico Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal 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 Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
- 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 oatmeal and hot cereal
-
Instant Oatmeal Fiber & Protein Maple Brown Sugar Quaker · 344 g Less sugar · Less salt Score 66 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar Quaker · 12.1 oz, 8 × 1.51 oz packets Less sugar · Less salt Score 59 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Protein Instant Oatmeal Banana Brown Sugar One Degree Organic Foods · 11.6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 66 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Protein Oatmeal Brown Sugar One Degree Organic Foods · 55 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Apple and Cinnamon instant oatmeal Kroger · 43 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 57 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
Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Caramel color minus 20 points
- Artificial flavors minus 2.5 points
- Guar gum minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 27.9 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 1.2 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 372 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 6.8 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 83 = 17
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 372 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76.7 g |
| Sugars | 27.9 g |
| Added sugars | 12.5 g |
| Fiber | 6.8 g |
| Protein | 9.3 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 1 PACKET (43 g)
Ingredients
- Whole grain rolled oats
- sugar (high concern)
- artificial flavor
- salt
- calcium carbonate
- guar gum
- caramel color (high concern)
- niacinamide
- reduced iron
- vitamin A palmitate
- pyridoxine hydrochloride
- riboflavin
- thiamin mononitrate
- folic acid
Label text, as published
Whole grain rolled oats, sugar, artificial flavor, salt, calcium carbonate, guar gum, caramel color, niacinamide, reduced iron, vitamin A palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- 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 -
Oats, Almonds & Honey Granola Kroger · 14 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 26 out of 100 Poor -
Cherry Pie Bars Larabar · 48 g High in sugarNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Cheerios General Mills · 24 oz Contains added sugarsContains whole grains Score 73 out of 100 Good
More from Pepsico
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
-
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