Cereals and their products
Betteroats Steel Cut apples & Cinnamon instant oatmeal
12.3 oz/348 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 40
Betteroats Steel Cut apples & Cinnamon instant oatmeal scores 40 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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
- minus 14 points Sugars 28.6 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better oatmeal and hot cereal
-
Apple Cinnamon Pecan Superfood Instant Oatmeal Purely Elizabeth · 2 oz/57 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Steel Cut Instant Oatmeal Original Wegmans Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Steel Cut Organic Oats Trader Joe's · 30 oz, 850 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Quaker Oats Steel Cut Quick 3-Minute Oats Quaker · 1 lb 9 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Steel Cut Oats Quick Millville · 25 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 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
Steel Cut apples & Cinnamon instant oatmeal
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 28.6 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 1.4 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.2 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 371 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 8.6 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 60 = 40
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). [8]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 371 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 7.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 74.3 g |
| Sugars | 28.6 g |
| Added sugars | 22.9 g |
| Fiber | 8.6 g |
| Protein | 8.6 g |
| Salt | 1.2 g |
Serving: 1 pouch (35 g)
Ingredients
- WHOLE GRAIN STEEL CUT OATS
- SUGAR (high concern)
- DRIED APPLES
- FLAXSEED
- SALT
- STEARIC ACID
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- CITRIC ACID AND ASCORBIC ACID (TO MAINTAIN APPLE COLOR)
Label text, as published
WHOLE GRAIN STEEL CUT OATS, SUGAR, DRIED APPLES, FLAXSEED, SALT, STEARIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID AND ASCORBIC ACID (TO MAINTAIN APPLE COLOR).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cereals and their products on GoodSwap
-
healthy grains granola Dark Chocolate Kind · 11 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 23 out of 100 Poor -
Original Shell Pasta & Cheese Sauce Velveeta · 12 oz (340 g) Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 56 out of 100 Okay -
healthy grains granola Peanut Butter Kind · 11 oz Contains added sugarsSeed-oil freeContains whole grains Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Chocolate chip cookie mix Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods · 22 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsSeed-oil free Score 5 out of 100 Bad -
Organic Superseed Granola Honey & Oats Manitoba Harvest · 10 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsCertified organic Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Mini Penne Barilla · 1 lb No additives Score 100 out of 100 Excellent
More from Betteroats
-
Steel Cut Oatmeal Original Betteroats · 10 Score 97 out of 100 Excellent -
Steel Cut Quick Cooking Oatmeal with Flax Seeds Maple & Brown Sugar Betteroats · 15.1 oz, 10 packets Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
100 Calorie Quick Cooking Oatmeal Cinnamon Roll Betteroats · 9.8 oz/277 g Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Organic Bare Multigrain Cereal With Flax Betteroats · 11.8 oz Score 100 out of 100 Excellent
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
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
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Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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