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

It is made from refined oat, wheat and barley flours, includes added sugars, honey, vegetable oil, molasses, flavorings and the antioxidant tocopherol‑rich extract (E306), all of which place it in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category.

How does the sugar and salt content in Cheerios affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 22 g of sugar per 100 g, Cheerios can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making it unsuitable for strict diabetic control, while its 0.66 g of salt is moderate and lower than the average cereal, posing less of a concern for hypertension but still contributing to total sodium intake.

Is Cheerios safe for a gluten‑free diet?

No; the ingredient list includes whole wheat flour, whole barley flour and wheat flour, all of which contain gluten, and the product is labeled with a gluten allergen warning.

Nestlé

Cheerios

Cereals And Potatoes

Product Insights

Cheerios is a breakfast cereal belonging to the cereals and potatoes group, specifically marketed as a breakfast-cereal flake. It carries a Nutri-Score of C and is classified in NOVA group 4, reflecting its ultra-processed nature with added sugars, honey, vegetable oil and the antioxidant additive E306. Nutritionally, it provides 374 kcal per 100 g, 9.1 g of fiber and 8.9 g of protein, but its sugar level is high (22 g) and it contains gluten, making it unsuitable for low-sugar or gluten-free diets.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal374 kcal

Fat3.6 g

Saturated Fat0.6 g

Carbohydrates71 g

Sugars22 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average breakfast cereal, Cheerios has substantially higher sugar (22 g vs 14.1 g) and carbohydrate (71 g vs 63.9 g) contents, while offering lower fat (3.6 g vs 9.0 g), saturated fat (0.6 g vs 2.5 g), salt (0.66 g vs 1.77 g) and slightly fewer calories (374 kcal vs 389 kcal), and it provides more fiber (9.1 g vs 8.3 g) but less protein (8.9 g vs 10.2 g).

Ingredients

Whole oat flour (30.3%), whole wheat flour (28.1%), sugar, whole barley flour (17.3%), wheat flour (6.7%), partially inverted brown sugar syrup, honey (2.2%), salt, vegetable oil (high oleic sunflower oil), molasses, natural flavorings, antioxidant (tocopherol-rich extract). VITAMINS AND MINERALS: Calcium, Iron, Vitamin C, Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Folic Acid (B9), Vitamin B6, Riboflavin (B2), and Vitamin D.

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