Extruded cereals
Kellogg's Special K Red Berries Cereal
16.9
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 25
Kellogg's Special K Red Berries Cereal scores 25 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 Brown 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
-
Original Wheat Berry Flakes Uncle Sam · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 78 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
No Added Sugar Mixed Berry Cereal Cascadian Farm Organic · 12.2 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 66 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Mixed Berry Cereal Cascadian Farm Organic · 354 g Less sugar · Less salt Score 72 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Cheerios General Mills · 8.9 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal Cheerios · 2 × 1 lb 4.35 oz (20.35 oz) (576 g) Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 65 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
Special K Red Berries Cereal
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 28.9 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.6 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 361 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 7.5 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 75 = 25
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [6]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 361 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.3 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 85.9 g |
| Sugars | 28.9 g |
| Added sugars | 26.1 g |
| Fiber | 7.5 g |
| Protein | 7.1 g |
| Salt | 1.6 g |
Serving: 1 Cup (39 g)
Ingredients
- Whole grain wheat
- rice
- sugar (high concern)
- freeze-dried strawberries
- wheat bran
- brown sugar syrup (high concern)
- salt
- malt flavor.Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) (not recognized)
- reduced iron
- vitamin E acetate
- niacinamide
- beta-carotene
- vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
- vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
- vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- folic acid
- vitamin D3
- vitamin B12
Label text, as published
Whole grain wheat, rice, sugar, freeze-dried strawberries, wheat bran, contains 2% or less of brown sugar syrup, salt, malt flavor.Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), reduced iron, vitamin E acetate, niacinamide, beta-carotene, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More extruded cereals on GoodSwap
-
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 -
Lucky Charms General Mills · 26.1 oz Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 7 out of 100 Bad -
Frosted Mini Wheats Kellogg's · 1.98 kg/992 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains whole grains Score 31 out of 100 Poor -
Special k crunchy wheat & rice flakes with real Kellogg's · 38 oz/1.07 kg Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 15 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