Reese's Puffs Peanut Butter & Cocoa Cereal Bars

by General Mills

This ultra-processed cereal bar is essentially candy disguised as breakfast food. Multiple sugars, artificial colors, trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils, and chemical preservatives make this a metabolic disaster that should be avoided.

• Whole grain corn – beneficial · Provides fiber and some nutrients, though heavily processed here
• Sugar – dangerous · Refined sugar that spikes blood glucose and promotes inflammation
• Peanuts – beneficial · Good source of protein and healthy fats when not over-processed
• Monoglycerides – controversial · Emulsifier that may disrupt gut microbiome
• Peanut oil – safe · Relatively stable oil, though processed
• Salt – safe · Essential mineral in moderate amounts
• Molasses – safe · Less refined sugar source with some minerals
• Corn starch – safe · Thickening agent, relatively benign
• Dextrose – dangerous · Simple sugar that rapidly raises blood glucose
• Corn syrup – dangerous · Highly processed sweetener that promotes metabolic dysfunction
• Canola oil – controversial · Highly processed seed oil that's inflammatory and unstable
• Corn meal – safe · Ground corn, relatively unprocessed
• Hershey's cocoa – safe · Natural cocoa powder with antioxidants
• Red 40 – dangerous · Synthetic dye linked to hyperactivity and potential carcinogenicity
• Yellow 5 – dangerous · Artificial color associated with behavioral issues in children
• Yellow 6 – dangerous · Synthetic dye with potential carcinogenic properties
• Blue 1 – dangerous · Artificial color that may cause allergic reactions
• Trisodium phosphate – controversial · Industrial chemical used as pH adjuster, may affect mineral absorption
• Natural flavor – controversial · Vague term that can hide dozens of chemical compounds
• Artificial flavor – controversial · Synthetic chemicals that may disrupt hormones
• Mixed tocopherols – beneficial · Natural vitamin E antioxidants
• Rice flour – safe · Gluten-free grain flour
• Cocoa processed with alkali – safe · Dutch-processed cocoa, reduces antioxidants but safe
• Barley malt extract – safe · Natural sweetener from grains
• Caramel color – controversial · May contain 4-methylimidazole, a potential carcinogen
• BHT – dangerous · Synthetic antioxidant linked to cancer and hormone disruption
• Partially defatted peanut meal – safe · Processed peanut product, still contains protein
• Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil – dangerous · Contains trans fats that increase heart disease risk
• Palm kernel oil – controversial · Highly saturated fat, environmentally problematic
• Soybean oil – controversial · Inflammatory omega-6 rich seed oil
• Corn syrup solids – dangerous · Dehydrated corn syrup, concentrated sugar
• Reduced minerals whey – safe · Dairy protein with minerals removed
• Vanillin – safe · Synthetic vanilla flavor, generally recognized as safe
• Soy lecithin – safe · Natural emulsifier, generally safe
• High fructose corn syrup – dangerous · Highly processed sweetener linked to obesity and metabolic disease
• Fractionated palm kernel oil – controversial · Highly processed saturated fat
• Fructose – dangerous · Concentrated fruit sugar that bypasses glucose regulation
• Glycerin – safe · Humectant that retains moisture
• Maltodextrin – controversial · Highly processed starch that spikes blood sugar
• Sorbitol – controversial · Sugar alcohol that can cause digestive issues
• Water – safe · Essential for processing and texture
• Gelatin – safe · Animal protein used as gelling agent
• Nonfat dry milk – safe · Dehydrated milk protein
• Whey – safe · Dairy protein with beneficial amino acids
• Calcium carbonate – safe · Mineral supplement for bone health
• Tricalcium phosphate – safe · Calcium and phosphorus supplement
• Zinc – beneficial · Essential mineral for immune function
• Iron – beneficial · Essential mineral for oxygen transport
• Sodium ascorbate – beneficial · Vitamin C for immune support
• Niacinamide – beneficial · Vitamin B3 for energy metabolism
• Pyridoxine hydrochloride – beneficial · Vitamin B6 for brain function
• Riboflavin – beneficial · Vitamin B2 for energy production
• Thiamin mononitrate – beneficial · Vitamin B1 for nervous system
• Vitamin A palmitate – beneficial · Fat-soluble vitamin for vision and immunity
• Folic acid – beneficial · B vitamin essential for DNA synthesis
• Vitamin B12 – beneficial · Essential for nerve function and red blood cells
• Vitamin D3 – beneficial · Fat-soluble vitamin for bone health and immunity

Fortified with vitamins and minerals

Contains some whole grain corn

Source of protein from peanuts

Six different sugar sources

Contains trans fats

Multiple artificial colors

BHT preservative

Ultra-processed with 47+ ingredients

High inflammatory potential