Is Rice Krispies Treats Ultra Processed?
Yes — Ultra-Processed
Rice Krispies Treats are ultra-processed (Level 4). They combine puffed rice cereal (which is itself ultra-processed via extrusion) with corn syrup, fructose, vegetable oil, sugar, and marshmallow (made from corn syrup and modified corn starch). Pre-packaged versions contain additional preservatives like BHT and TBHQ.
Key Findings
- •Pre-packaged Rice Krispies Treats contain approximately 15 ingredients including three different sweeteners
- •Both the cereal and the marshmallow components are themselves ultra-processed before being combined
- •Homemade Rice Krispies Treats (cereal, butter, marshmallow) have fewer additives but the base ingredients remain ultra-processed
Why Is Rice Krispies Treats Ultra-Processed?
The base ingredient — Rice Krispies cereal — is already ultra-processed through extrusion cooking and contains sugar, salt, malt flavoring, and BHT preservative. The treat adds a marshmallow binding layer made from corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, and gelatin. Pre-packaged Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats bars also include fructose, vegetable oil (with TBHQ preservative), and additional emulsifiers. The homemade version (cereal, butter, marshmallow) is simpler but still Level 3-4 because the cereal and marshmallow are themselves ultra-processed ingredients.
Rice Krispies Treats Processing Level Distribution
How 555 rice krispies treats products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 29.6 · Average nutrition score: 0.9/10
Rice Krispies Treats Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed rice krispies treats products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats | Trader Joe's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 9 |
| Creamy Vanilla Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats | Glenny's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 8 |
| Creamy Vanilla Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats, Creamy Vanilla | Glenny's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 8 |
| Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats | Glenny's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 9 |
| Organic Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats | Trader Joe's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 9 |
| Creamy Vanilla Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats | Glenny's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 8 |
| Organic Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats | Trader Joe's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 9 |
| Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats | Glenny's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.5 | 9 |
| Crispy Marshmallow Treats, Birthday Cake | Enlightened | Processing Level: 3 out of 4 - Highly Processed | 7.9 | 28 |
| Crispy Marshmallow Treats, Birthday Cake | Enlightened | Processing Level: 3 out of 4 - Highly Processed | 7.9 | 28 |
How to Read Rice Krispies Treats Labels
- 1
Pre-packaged Rice Krispies Treats contain corn syrup, fructose, and sugar — three separate sweeteners
- 2
TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is a synthetic preservative in the vegetable oil
- 3
BHT appears both in the cereal and in the finished treat as a preservative
- 4
Homemade versions are slightly simpler but still use ultra-processed base ingredients (cereal and marshmallows)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are homemade Rice Krispies Treats less processed?
Slightly. Homemade versions (cereal, butter, marshmallows) skip the added fructose, vegetable oil, TBHQ, and extra preservatives in pre-packaged bars. However, both the cereal and marshmallows are ultra-processed ingredients themselves, so homemade versions are still Level 3-4.
Why do Rice Krispies Treats have so many sweeteners?
Pre-packaged Rice Krispies Treats use corn syrup (for chewiness and binding), fructose (for sweetness), and sugar (in the cereal and marshmallow). Each sweetener serves a different functional purpose in the texture and taste of the product.
Are Rice Krispies Treats a good snack for kids?
Rice Krispies Treats are a Level 4 ultra-processed snack with multiple sweeteners and preservatives. A pre-packaged bar contains about 8g of sugar. From a processing standpoint, fresh fruit, plain popcorn, or cheese and crackers are simpler alternatives.