Why is Red Berries classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

A NOVA 4 product is formulated mainly from industrial ingredients and contains added flavors, sweeteners or fortified compounds; Red Berries includes brown sugar syrup, malt flavor, vitamin and mineral fortificants, and a beta‑carotene source that may derive from palm oil, all of which place it in the ultra‑processed category.

How does the high sugar and moderate salt content of Red Berries affect people with diabetes or hypertension?

The 25 g of sugar per 100 g can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose, making the cereal less suitable for diabetes management, while the 1.6 g of salt per 100 g contributes to daily sodium intake and may raise blood pressure, which can be a concern for those with hypertension.

Is Red Berries suitable for a gluten‑free or vegan diet?

No; the cereal contains whole‑grain wheat and wheat bran, which provide gluten, so it is not gluten‑free. Although most ingredients are plant‑based, some additives such as beta‑carotene (potentially from palm oil) and vitamin E acetate have uncertain origins, meaning the product cannot be confirmed as fully vegan.

Kellogg's

Red Berries

Cereals And Potatoes

Product Insights

Red Berries is a Special K breakfast cereal made from whole‑grain wheat, rice, freeze‑dried strawberries and fortified with a blend of vitamins and minerals. It falls in the PNNS groups “Cereals and potatoes” and “Breakfast cereals”, carries a Nutri‑Score of D and is classified as a NOVA 4 ultra‑processed product; it is high in sugars (≈25.6 g/100 g) and moderate in salt (≈1.6 g/100 g) but provides about 7.7 g of fiber and 7.7 g of protein per 100 g. The cereal is low in fat, contains no saturated fat, includes gluten and may not suit low‑sugar, low‑salt or strict vegan diets despite its vitamin fortification.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

high

Salt

high

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal359 kcal

Added Sugars25.6 g

Vitamin C25.6 mg

Vitamin E2.6 mg

Vitamin B60.5 mg

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average breakfast cereal, Red Berries contains almost double the sugar, markedly less fat, and slightly less salt per 100 g.

Ingredients

Whole grain wheat, rice, sugar, freeze-dried strawberries, wheat bran, contains 2% or less of brown sugar syrup, salt, malt flavor., Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), reduced iron, vitamin E acetate, niacinamide, beta-carotene, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.

84%

35%

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