Breakfast cereals
Kellogg's Special K Blueberry
15.5
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 14
Kellogg's Special K Blueberry scores 14 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 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
-
Special K Red Berries Kellogg's · 140 g Not ultra-processed · No brown sugar Score 55 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Strawberry Crème Special K Cereal Special K · 8.1 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 55 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Special K Zero Cinnamon Kellogg's Less sugar · No added sugars Score 52 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Special K zero Special K · 6.3 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 52 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Blueberry Muffin Protein Cereal Catalina Crunch · 8 g Less sugar · No added sugars Score 58 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
Special K Blueberry
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Malt syrup 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 29.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 366 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 7.3 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 86.5 = 13.5 → 14
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 | 366 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.2 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 87.8 g |
| Sugars | 29.3 g |
| Added sugars | 26.8 g |
| Fiber | 7.3 g |
| Protein | 7.3 g |
| Salt | 1.4 g |
Serving: 1 cup (41 g)
Ingredients
- Whole grain wheat
- rice
- sugar (high concern)
- wheat bran
- freeze dried blueberries
- salt
- brown sugar syrup (high concern)
- natural flavor
- malt flavor (high concern)
- Reduced iron
- vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- vitamin E acetate
- niacinamide
- vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
- beta-carotene
- vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
- folic acid
- vitamin B12
- vitamin D3
Label text, as published
Whole grain wheat, rice, sugar, wheat bran, freeze dried blueberries, contains 2% or less of salt, brown sugar syrup, natural flavor, malt flavor, Reduced iron, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E acetate, niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), beta-carotene, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D3
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 -
Cherry Pie Bars Larabar · 13.6 oz High in sugarNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Chocolate Waffle Crisp Cereal Kashi · 9.5 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 33 out of 100 Poor -
Raisin bran crunch original breakfast cereal Kellogg's · 15.9 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 13 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