Cheerios

Rated at 2/5 green leaves, Cheerios Honey Nut Cheerios falls short in providing a truly clean food option. This cereal is not organic and contains GMO ingredients, factors that significantly lower its score on our green leaf rating scale. The presence of added sugars, specifically brown sugar and sugar, further detracts from its healthfulness.

The ingredient list reveals the use of canola and palm oils, which are considered harmful in our evaluation criteria. Additionally, the product includes natural almond flavor and pyridoxine hydrochloride, a form of Vitamin B6, both of which are identified as potentially harmful additives. These components contribute to the overall subpar rating.

The vitamins and minerals added to the cereal, such as calcium carbonate, vitamin C, iron, zinc, niacinamide, vitamin B6, thiamin mononitrate, vitamin A, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin D3, are intended to enhance its nutritional profile. However, these additions do not offset the negative impact of the non-organic, GMO, and added sugar contents.

The product is preserved with mixed tocopherols, a form of vitamin E, which is a positive aspect. Nonetheless, the use of tripotassium phosphate as a preservative is worth noting, although it is not specifically highlighted in the scoring criteria.

Cheerios Honey Nut Cheerios’ rating reflects its need for improvement to meet the standards of cleaner, healthier food options. The inclusion of whole grain oats as the primary ingredient is a redeeming quality, yet it is overshadowed by the less desirable ingredients. To enhance its green leaf rating, the cereal would benefit from the removal of harmful oils, added sugars, and potentially harmful additives, along with a shift towards organic and non-GMO ingredients. Overall, this product does not align with the goal of offering cleaner food alternatives in the current market.