Cereal

Why Does This Score Highly Processed?

In our analysis, Cereal scores Highly Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Processed Fruit Products (Cocoa (Processed With Alkali)): Concentrates and extracts indicate significant processing.
• Other Additives (Sodium Ascorbate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.

Within Breakfast Cereal, this product is more processed than about 40% of the 9,419 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Cereal's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Sugar, Fructose.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: High Oleic Canola Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Caramel Color.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Trisodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor. Vitamins And Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Reduced Iron, Zinc Oxide.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, and 4 more.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.