Extruded cereals
Quaker Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar
596 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 22
Quaker Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar scores 22 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 Malt 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
-
Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps One Degree Organic Foods · 227 g Not ultra-processed · No sugar Score 74 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Organic Brown Rice Crisps 365 Whole Foods Market · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No malt syrup Score 72 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Bite-Sized Wheat Squares 365 Whole Foods Market · 14 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 96 out of 100 , 74 points higher -
No Added Sugar Vanilla Crisp Cereal Cascadian Farm · 12.5 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 68 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
No Added Sugar Mixed Berry Cereal Cascadian Farm Organic · 12.2 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 66 out of 100 , 44 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Malt syrup minus 20 points
- Molasses minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 16.1 g / 100 g minus 8 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 375 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 8.9 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 78.5 = 21.5 → 22
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 375 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 78.6 g |
| Sugars | 16.1 g |
| Added sugars | 16.1 g |
| Fiber | 8.9 g |
| Protein | 10.7 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 serving (56 g)
Ingredients
- WHOLE GRAIN OAT FLOUR
- WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR
- SUGAR (high concern)
- MALTODEXTRIN
- MALTED BARLEY EXTRACT (high concern)
- MOLASSES (high concern)
- BROWN SUGAR (high concern)
- SALT
- BAKING SODA
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- TOCOPHEROLS (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS)
- REDUCED IRON
- FOLIC ACID
- ONE OF THE B VITAMINS
Label text, as published
WHOLE GRAIN OAT FLOUR, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, MALTODEXTRIN, MALTED BARLEY EXTRACT, MOLASSES, BROWN SUGAR, SALT, BAKING SODA, NATURAL FLAVOR, TOCOPHEROLS (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS), REDUCED IRON, FOLIC ACID*, *ONE OF THE B VITAMINS
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- 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 -
Cheerios General Mills · 20 oz Contains added sugarsContains whole grains Score 65 out of 100 Good -
Island Vanilla Kashi · 16.3 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsCertified organicNo additives Score 40 out of 100 Okay -
Cocoa Grain Free Cereal Three Wishes · 245 g Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugars Score 53 out of 100 Okay
More from Quaker
-
Simply Granola Oats, Honey, Raisins & Almonds Quaker · 1.95 kg Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Quaker Lightly Salted Rice Cakes Quaker · 127 g Score 94 out of 100 Excellent -
Buttermilk Ranch Rice Crisps Quaker Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon Quaker · 1.51 oz Score 47 out of 100 Okay
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
-
“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