Toast Crunch Peanut Butter Squares

by General Mills

Ultra-processed cereal with multiple sugars, artificial additives, and controversial preservative BHT. While fortified with vitamins, the high sugar content and processing level make this a poor daily breakfast choice.

• Whole grain wheat – beneficial · Good source of fiber and nutrients, better than refined wheat
• Sugar – controversial · Refined sugar contributing to blood sugar spikes and potential metabolic issues
• Rice flour – safe · Gluten-free grain flour providing carbohydrates
• Peanut butter – safe · Provides protein and healthy fats, though processed form
• Peanuts – beneficial · Good source of protein, healthy fats, and nutrients
• Peanut oil – safe · Stable oil for processing, better than some industrial oils
• Salt – safe · Essential mineral in moderate amounts
• Molasses – safe · Less refined sweetener with some minerals
• Monoglycerides – safe · Emulsifier generally recognized as safe
• Corn starch – safe · Thickening agent from corn
• Maltodextrin – controversial · Highly processed sweetener that spikes blood sugar more than table sugar
• Rice bran – beneficial · Nutrient-rich part of rice grain
• Canola oil – controversial · Highly processed seed oil that may promote inflammation
• Dextrose – controversial · Simple sugar that rapidly raises blood glucose
• Trisodium phosphate – safe · Food additive used as texturizer, generally safe in food amounts
• Natural flavor – safe · Flavor compounds derived from natural sources
• Artificial flavor – controversial · Synthetic flavor compounds with unknown long-term effects
• Color added – controversial · Artificial coloring that may affect behavior in sensitive individuals
• Vitamin E – beneficial · Antioxidant vitamin essential for health
• Mixed tocopherols – beneficial · Natural vitamin E compounds that preserve freshness
• BHT – dangerous · Synthetic preservative linked to potential carcinogenic effects and hormone disruption
• Calcium carbonate – beneficial · Calcium supplement for bone health
• Zinc – beneficial · Essential mineral for immune function
• Iron – beneficial · Essential mineral for oxygen transport
• Vitamin C – beneficial · Important antioxidant vitamin
• Sodium ascorbate – safe · Form of vitamin C
• Niacinamide – beneficial · B vitamin essential for energy metabolism
• Vitamin B6 – beneficial · B vitamin important for brain function
• Pyridoxine hydrochloride – beneficial · Synthetic form of vitamin B6
• Vitamin B2 – beneficial · B vitamin essential for energy production
• Riboflavin – beneficial · Another name for vitamin B2
• Vitamin B1 – beneficial · B vitamin essential for nerve function
• Thiamin mononitrate – beneficial · Synthetic form of vitamin B1
• Vitamin A – beneficial · Essential vitamin for vision and immune function
• Palmitate – safe · Form of vitamin A
• Folic acid – beneficial · B vitamin important for DNA synthesis
• Vitamin B12 – beneficial · B vitamin essential for nerve function
• Vitamin D3 – beneficial · Essential vitamin for bone health and immunity

Whole grain wheat

Vitamin and mineral fortification

Some protein from peanuts

Multiple sugar sources

BHT preservative

Ultra-processed

Artificial colors and flavors

High glycemic impact