Cereal bars
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Original
0.35 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 7
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Original scores 7 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 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.
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Protein Treats Chocolate Peanut Butter Magic Spoon · 1.4 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 57 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Protein Treats Double Chocolate Magic Spoon Less sugar · No added sugars Score 56 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Brown Rice Bar rice UP! Less sugar · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 49 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Larabar Cherry Pie Larabar · 1 Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 72 points higher -
Chocolate date bar Trader Joe's Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 67 out of 100 , 60 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Rice Krispies Treats Original
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Malt syrup minus 20 points
- Corn syrup 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 36.4 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 409 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 93 = 7
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [6]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 409 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 9.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 72.7 g |
| Sugars | 36.4 g |
| Added sugars | 36.4 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 1.1 g |
Serving: 1 Bar (11 g)
Ingredients
- TOASTED RICE CEREAL (rice, sugar, salt, malt flavor)
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- FRUCTOSE (high concern)
- VEGETABLE OIL (soybean and palm oil with TBHQ for freshness)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- CORN SYRUP SOLIDS (high concern)
- vegetable glycerin
- dextrose (high concern)
- gelatin
- natural and artificial flavors (contains milk)
- salt
- DATEM
- acetylated monoglycerides
- soy lecithin
- BHT for freshness
Label text, as published
INGREDIENTS: TOASTED RICE CEREAL (rice, sugar, salt, malt flavor), CORN SYRUP, FRUCTOSE, VEGETABLE OIL (soybean and palm oil with TBHQ for freshness), SUGAR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF vegetable glycerin, dextrose, gelatin, natural and artificial flavors (contains milk), salt, DATEM, acetylated monoglycerides, soy lecithin, BHT for freshness.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cereal bars on GoodSwap
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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 -
Baked Oat Bar Chocolate Chip Elevation Kids Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Oats & Honey Chewy Granola Bar Sunbelt Bakery Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
PB&Js Grape Bobo's · 2.1 oz/60 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 8 out of 100 Bad
More from Kellogg's
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
-
“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
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
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