Rolled oats
Great Value Fruit & Cream Variety Pack Instant Oatmeal
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 12
Great Value Fruit & Cream Variety Pack Instant Oatmeal scores 12 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 Red 40: In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Regulatory
- 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 oatmeal and hot cereal
-
Instant Oatmeal Fruit & Cream Millville No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 58 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Cream of Wheat Instant Original Hot Cereal Cream of Wheat · 12 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 70 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Instant Fruit & Cream Oatmeal Quaker · 600 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 45 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Instant Oatmeal Blueberries & Cream Quaker · 1.05 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 47 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Strawberries & Cream Instant Oatmeal Great Value · 8.4 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 46 out of 100 , 34 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Fruit & Cream Variety Pack Instant Oatmeal
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Red 40 minus 20 points
- Corn syrup solids minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 26.7 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 367 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 6.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 88 = 12
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 367 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 73.3 g |
| Sugars | 26.7 g |
| Added sugars | 26.7 g |
| Fiber | 6.7 g |
| Protein | 10 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 1 serving (30 g)
Ingredients
- strawberries
- cream: whole grain rolled oats
- sugar (high concern)
- artificially wheat flavored apple pieces (dried apples treated with citric acid and sodium sulfite to promote color retention, artificial flavor, red 40)
- creaming agent (maltodextrin, vegetable oil, whey, sodium caseinate [a milk derivativej potassium phosphate), oat flour (whole), salt, calcium carbonate (a source of calcium), natural and artificial flavors, guar gum, citric acid, ferric phosphate (a source of iron), vitamin a palmitate, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride) (not recognized)
Label text, as published
strawberries , cream: whole grain rolled oats, sugar, artificially wheat flavored apple pieces (dried apples treated with citric acid and sodium sulfite to promote color retention, artificial flavor, red 40), creaming agent (maltodextrin, vegetable oil [soybean oil and/or coconut oil and/or canola oil and/or sunflower oil], whey, sodium caseinate [a milk derivativej potassium phosphate), oat flour (whole), contains less than 2% of: salt, calcium carbonate (a source of calcium), natural and artificial flavors, guar gum, citric acid, ferric phosphate (a source of iron), vitamin a palmitate, niacinamide**, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b,**, riboflavin**, thiamine mononitrate** folic acid**, blueberries , cream: whole grain rolled oats, sugar, blueberry flavored and colored fig pieces (dried figs, dried corn syrup solids, modified food starch, sugar, dextrose, flavored blueberry juice concentrate, glycerin, natural flavor, canola oil, citric acid, blue 2 lake, red 40 lake), oat flour (whole), creaming agent (maltodextrin, vegetable oil [soybean oil and/or coconut oil and/or canola oil and/or sunflower oil], whey, sodium caseinate [a mìlk derivative], potassium phosphate), contains less than 2% of: salt, calcium carbonate (a source of calcium), guar gum, ferric phosphate (a source of iron), vitamin a palmitate, niacinamide, natural flavor, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b,)**, riboflavin**, thiamine mononitrate**, folic acid, peaches , cream: whole grain rolled oats, sugar, flavored apple pieces (dried apples [treated with sodium sulfite to promote color retention], artificial flavor, citric acid, annatto [color), oat flour (whole), creaming agent (maltodextrin, vegetable oil [soybean oil and/or coconut oil and/or canola oil and/or sunflower oi̇l], whey, sodium caseinate [a milk derivative], potassium phospháte), contains less than 2% of: salt, calcium carbonate (a source of calcium), guar gum, ferric phosphate (a source of iron), artificial flavor, vitamin a palmitate, niacinamide**, pyridoxine hydrochlořide (vitamin b6)** riboflavin**, thiamine mononitrate**, folic acid**, bananas ,cream: whole grain rolled oats, sugar, oat flour (whole), creaming agent (maltodextrin, vegetable oil [soybean oil and/or coconut oil and/or canola oil and/or sunflower oil], whey, sodium caseinate a milk derivativej, potassium phosphate), contains less than 2% of: salt, calcium carbonate (a source of calcium), banana flake powder, guar gum, ferric phosphate (a source of iron), vitamin a palmitate, niacinamide**, natural , artificial flavor, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b)**, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate**, folic acid*, **one of the b vitamins, contains milk,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More rolled oats on GoodSwap
-
Sprouted Rolled Oats One Degree Organic Foods · 5 lb (80 oz) 2.27 kg Certified organicNo additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Quick 1-Minute Oats Quaker Oats · 42 oz / 1.19 kg No additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Old Fashioned Oats Quaker Oats · 42 oz No additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Old Fashioned Oats O Organics · 42 oz/1.19 kg Certified organicNo additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Mccann's, instant irish oatmeal McCann's · 0.99 oz Ultra-processedNo synthetic dyesContains whole grains Score 59 out of 100 Okay -
Whole Grain Rolled Oats Bay Valley Foods · 18 oz (1 lb 2 oz) 510 g No additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent
More from Great Value
-
Purified Drinking Water Great Value · 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Greek Plain Great Value · 907 g Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Half-Length Spaghetti Great Value · 16 oz Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Sardines in Mustard Sauce Great Value · 3.75 oz (106 g) Score 88 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
-
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
-
List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review
“The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”
fda.gov
-
“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
-
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
-
“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