Breakfast cereals
Quaker Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar
411 g
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 20
Quaker Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar scores 20 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Sugar: 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 No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 74 out of 100 , 54 points higher -
Organic Brown Rice Crisps 365 Whole Foods Market · 12 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 72 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
No Added Sugar Vanilla Crisp Cereal Cascadian Farm · 12.5 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 68 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Bite-Sized Frosted Wheat Squares 365 Whole Foods Market · 16 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 61 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
No Added Sugar Mixed Berry Cereal Cascadian Farm Organic · 12.2 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 66 out of 100 , 46 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
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Malt syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 16.1 g / 100 g minus 8 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 393 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 8.9 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 80 = 20
Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 393 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 77.8 g |
| Sugars | 16.1 g |
| Added sugars | 14.3 g |
| Fiber | 8.9 g |
| Protein | 10.7 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 56 g
Ingredients
- Whole grain oat flour
- whole wheat flour
- brown sugar (high concern)
- sugar (high concern)
- maltodextrin
- malted barley extract (high concern)
- molasses (high concern)
- salt
- calcium carbonate
- sodium bicarbonate
- natural flavor
- yellow 5 (high concern)
- sodium ascorbate
- reduced iron
- yellow 6 (high concern)
- alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e)
- bht (preservative)
- niacinamide (vitamin b3)
- zinc oxide
- thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1)
- folic acid
- pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6)
- vitamin a palmitate
- riboflavin (vitamin b2)
Label text, as published
Whole grain oat flour, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, sugar, maltodextrin, malted barley extract, molasses, salt, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, natural flavor, yellow 5, sodium ascorbate, reduced iron, yellow 6, alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), bht (preservative), niacinamide (vitamin b3), zinc oxide, thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), vitamin a palmitate, riboflavin (vitamin b2).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- 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 -
Honey Almond Gluten Free Nature's Path Organic · 11 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 29 out of 100 Poor -
Kashi Organic Autumn Wheat Cereal Kashi Ultra-processedContains added sugarsNo additivesContains whole grains Score 62 out of 100 Good -
Raisin Bran Millville · 470 g High in sugarContains added sugarsNo additivesContains whole grains Score 57 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 -
Instant Oatmeal Original Quaker · 9.8 oz, 10 × 0.98 oz packets Score 92 out of 100 Excellent -
Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar Quaker · 12.1 oz, 8 × 1.51 oz packets Score 59 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
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
legislation.gov.uk
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”
fda.gov
-
California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
-
21 CFR 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5
“shall specifically declare the presence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 by listing the color additive as FD&C Yellow No. 5 among the list of ingredients.”
ecfr.gov
-
HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)
“Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”
fda.gov
-
“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