Why is NESTLE LION Cereal classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is rated NOVA 4 because it is a ready-to-eat cereal made from refined grains and includes several industrially added ingredients such as added sugars, glucose syrup, caramelized sugar syrup, calcium carbonate, natural flavorings, and an emulsifier (lecithins, listed as E322).

How does the high sugar and moderate salt content in this cereal affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

The 24.5 g of sugar per 100 g can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making it a poor choice for strict diabetic control, while the 0.4 g of salt contributes modest sodium that can accumulate with large servings, so people with hypertension should limit their portion.

Based on the ingredient list, is this cereal suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

It is not suitable for vegans because the chocolate may contain milk and traces of dairy are listed, it is not gluten‑free due to whole‑wheat and wheat flour, it is not keto‑friendly because of its high carbohydrate and sugar content, but the ingredients do not contain any obvious non‑halal components, so it can be considered halal for most consumers.

Nestlé, Lion • 400 g

NESTLE LION Céréales 400g

Cereals And Potatoes

Product Insights

NESTLE LION Cereal is a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal belonging to the breakfast cereals group. It carries a Nutri-Score of C and is classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4), offering 41% whole-wheat, 7 g of fiber and added vitamins and minerals, but also delivering 24.5 g of sugar and 0.4 g of salt per 100 g while containing gluten. Overall it provides about 410 kcal per 100 g, with relatively low saturated fat, yet its high sugar load makes it less suitable for low-sugar or low-carb diets.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal406 kcal

Fat7.4 g

Saturated Fat1.1 g

Carbohydrates73.2 g

Sugars24.5 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average breakfast cereal, this product contains about 24.5 g of sugar per 100 g (well above the category average of 14.1 g) while offering slightly lower total fat (~6.5 g vs 9 g), lower saturated fat (1.1 g vs 2.5 g) and lower salt (0.4 g vs 1.8 g), but its energy (~410 kcal) is a bit higher than the average 389 kcal.

Ingredients

BLÉ complet 41,4 %, farine de BLÉ, sucre, sirop de glucose, huile de tournesol, chocolat 3,0 % (cacao maigre en poudre*, sucre, pâte de cacao*), carbonate de calcium, sel, arômes naturels, émulsifiant : lécithines, sirop de sucre caramélisé, fer, vitamines B3, B5, D, B6, B1, B2, B9. Peut contenir du LAIT et des FRUITS À COQUE. *Bilan massique certifié Rainforest Alliance. www.ra.org/fr. Nestlé achète une quantité de cacao certifié Rainforest Alliance équivalente à celle nécessaire pour ce produit.

84%

35%

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