Truelabel

Sweetened Cereal

by General Mills

This ultra-processed cereal is essentially candy masquerading as breakfast, with sugar as the second ingredient and multiple forms of added sugars. The industrial processing strips away natural nutrients, requiring synthetic vitamin fortification to appear nutritious.

  • Whole Grain Corn – beneficial · Provides fiber and some nutrients, though heavily processed in this form
  • Sugar – dangerous · Second ingredient indicates very high sugar content, contributing to metabolic dysfunction and inflammation
  • Corn Meal – safe · Processed corn that adds bulk but limited nutritional value
  • Canola Oil – controversial · Seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids that may promote inflammation when consumed regularly
  • Yellow Corn Flour – safe · Refined corn flour for texture and structure
  • Cocoa Processed with Alkali – controversial · Dutch-processed cocoa has reduced antioxidants compared to natural cocoa
  • Corn Syrup – dangerous · High-fructose liquid sugar that rapidly spikes blood glucose and promotes metabolic issues
  • Salt – safe · Standard sodium content for flavor enhancement
  • Brown Sugar Syrup – dangerous · Third sugar source adding to the excessive sweetener load
  • Caramel Color – controversial · Artificial coloring that may contain 4-methylimidazole, a potential carcinogen
  • Baking Soda – safe · Sodium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent
  • Natural Flavor – controversial · Vague term that can include hundreds of undisclosed chemical compounds
  • Calcium Carbonate – safe · Added calcium for fortification
  • Tricalcium Phosphate – safe · Calcium and phosphorus supplement
  • Zinc – beneficial · Essential mineral for immune function
  • Iron – beneficial · Essential mineral often deficient in diets
  • Sodium Ascorbate – beneficial · Vitamin C fortification
  • Niacinamide – beneficial · Vitamin B3 for metabolism
  • Pyridoxine Hydrochloride – beneficial · Vitamin B6 supplement
  • Riboflavin – beneficial · Vitamin B2 for energy metabolism
  • Thiamin Mononitrate – beneficial · Vitamin B1 supplement
  • Vitamin A Palmitate – beneficial · Fat-soluble vitamin A fortification
  • Folic Acid – beneficial · Synthetic folate for DNA synthesis
  • Vitamin B12 – beneficial · Essential vitamin for nervous system
  • Vitamin D3 – beneficial · Important for bone health and immunity

Contains whole grain corn as first ingredient

Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals

Provides some B-vitamins for energy metabolism

Extremely high sugar content from multiple sources

Contains inflammatory seed oil (canola)

Ultra-processed with artificial coloring

Promotes blood sugar spikes and metabolic dysfunction

Likely contains pesticide residues from non-organic corn