GoodSwap Get notified
Great Value Sugar Free Instant Oatmeal, Maple & Brown Sugar
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Breakfast cereals

Great Value Sugar Free Instant Oatmeal, Maple & Brown Sugar

8 oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
  • Contains artificial flavors
  • No synthetic dyes
  • Contains whole grains
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 27

Great Value Sugar Free Instant Oatmeal, Maple & Brown Sugar scores 27 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
  2. Aspartame: Labels must warn people with phenylketonuria (PKU) because aspartame contains phenylalanine (US and EU). Regulatory
  3. 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

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Sugar Free Instant Oatmeal, Maple & Brown Sugar

START100

Ingredients

  • Caramel color
    Regulatory The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. [1][2][3][4]
  • Aspartame
    Regulatory Labels must warn people with phenylketonuria (PKU) because aspartame contains phenylalanine (US and EU). [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
  • Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)
    Strong In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, acesulfame-K intake was associated with higher cancer risk; cause and effect is not established. [11][14][12][13]
  • Natural and artificial flavors
    Strong The label does not disclose which flavoring substances are used. [15][13]
  • Guar gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [16]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [16]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavoring, non-nutritive sweetener and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [16]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 1.7 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [17]
  • Energy 357 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [13]
  • Fiber 10.7 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [13]
  • Protein 14.3 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [13]
subtotal−1
TOTAL 27Poor

100 − 73.5 = 26.5 → 27

Can’t score above 79. Contains caramel color, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [18]

GTIN 00078742490984 · 2026-03-04

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy357 kcal
Fat7.1 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates64.3 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber10.7 g
Protein14.3 g
Salt1.7 g

Serving: 1 PACKET (28 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, OAT FLOUR (WHOLE), SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE (A SOURCE OF CALCIUM), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, GUAR GUM, CARAMEL COLOR, ASPARTAME**, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, FERRIC PHOSPHATE (A SOURCE OF IRON), NIACINAMIDE*, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6)*, RIBOFLAVIN*, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE*, FOLIC ACID*.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Gluten

  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest breakfast cereals in the US

More from Great Value

Sources

  1. Questions & Answers About 4-MEI

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Mar 27, 2020 · Regulator

    “Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”

    fda.gov

  2. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  3. Caramel Color in Soft Drinks and Exposure to 4-Methylimidazole: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

    PLOS ONE · Feb 18, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  4. Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

    California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

    “The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

    oehha.ca.gov

  5. 21 CFR 172.804 Aspartame

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Mar 24, 2023 · Law

    “PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE”

    ecfr.gov

  6. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.3 (aspartame)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘contains a source of phenylalanine’ shall appear on the label in cases where aspartame/aspartame-acesulfame salt is designated in the list of ingredients by its specific name.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  7. Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released (IARC, WHO and FAO joint news release)

    World Health Organization · Jul 14, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “Citing “limited evidence” for carcinogenicity in humans, IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B) and JECFA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight.”

    who.int

  8. Carcinogenicity of aspartame, methyleugenol, and isoeugenol (IARC Monographs Vol. 134 working group summary)

    The Lancet Oncology · August 2023 · IARC

    doi.org

  9. Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Feb 27, 2025 · Regulator

    “The FDA disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans.”

    fda.gov

  10. EFSA completes full risk assessment on aspartame and concludes it is safe at current levels of exposure

    European Food Safety Authority · Dec 10, 2013 · Agency assessment

    “Aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure”

    efsa.europa.eu

  11. Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study

    PLOS Medicine · Mar 24, 2022 · Peer-reviewed

    “In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”

    doi.org

  12. WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline

    World Health Organization · May 15, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”

    who.int

  13. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  14. Re-evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additive (plain language summary)

    European Food Safety Authority · Apr 30, 2025 · Agency assessment

    “The acceptable daily intake (ADI) considered safe for all population groups was set at 15 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  15. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  16. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  17. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  18. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  19. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  20. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org