Why is Special K Classic classified as processed (NOVA 3) and what specific additives does it contain?

NOVA 3 includes foods made from refined ingredients and fortified with vitamins or minerals; Special K Classic is made from refined rice and whole‑wheat, added sugar, barley malt and a vitamin‑mineral blend, but it lists no added food additives, so its processing level comes from the grain extrusion and enrichment rather than from additives.

How does the sugar and salt content in Special K Classic affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 15 g of sugars per 100 g, the cereal can cause noticeable blood‑glucose spikes, making it a less favorable choice for people managing diabetes, while its 0.84 g of salt is moderate and lower than the average breakfast cereal, so it poses a smaller but still relevant concern for hypertension when consumed in large portions.

Is Special K Classic suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or dairy‑free diets?

Although most of its ingredients are plant‑based, the presence of barley (a gluten source) and a warning that it may contain milk traces means it is not gluten‑free nor dairy‑free, and because the vitamin‑mineral blend includes iron and B12 that are vegan‑compatible, vegans can eat it if they avoid gluten and dairy.

Kellogg's • 335 g

Special K Classic

Cereals And Potatoes

Product Insights

Special K Classic is a breakfast cereal that falls under the "Cereals and potatoes" and "Breakfast cereals" groups in the French PNNS classification. It holds a Nutri-Score of C and is assigned to NOVA group 3, indicating a processed food that is fortified with iron, B‑vitamins and provides 6 g of fiber per 100 g, but it also contains 15 g of sugars and 0.84 g of salt, making its sugar level slightly above the average for breakfast cereals. The product contains gluten from barley and may have trace milk, so it is not suitable for gluten‑free or dairy‑free diets despite being marketed as a plant‑based cereal.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal392 kcal

Fat1.3 g

Saturated Fat0.3 g

Carbohydrates84 g

Sugars15 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average breakfast cereal, Special K Classic has slightly higher sugar (15 g vs 14.14 g per 100 g) and lower salt (0.84 g vs 1.78 g per 100 g), while its fiber content (6 g) falls below the typical 8.27 g.

Ingredients

Arroz (47%), trigo integral (37%), azúcar, cebada (5%), harina de malta de cebada, sal, extracto de malta de cebada, niacina, hierro, riboflavina, tiamina, vitamina B6, ácido fólico, vitamina D, vitamina B12. Para alérgenos ver ingredientes destacados en negrita. Puede contener gluten de otros cereales, leche.

84%

35%

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