Puffed Wheat Cereal
by Post Consumer
A heavily processed cereal where sugar is the first ingredient, making it essentially candy disguised as breakfast. The combination of refined sugar, corn syrup, and artificial coloring creates a blood sugar spike with minimal nutritional value beyond added synthetic vitamins.
- Sugar – dangerous · Listed first, indicating highest quantity. Refined sugar causes rapid blood glucose spikes and contributes to metabolic dysfunction when consumed regularly.
- Wheat – safe · Provides the cereal base, though heavily processed into puffs which removes most fiber and nutrients naturally present in whole wheat.
- Corn Syrup – dangerous · High-fructose liquid sweetener that bypasses satiety signals and promotes fat storage more readily than regular sugar.
- Honey – controversial · Natural sweetener but still contributes to the overall high sugar content and blood glucose impact of this cereal.
- Caramel Color – controversial · Artificial coloring that may contain 4-methylimidazole, a compound linked to cancer risk in animal studies.
- Salt – safe · Added for flavor enhancement in typical amounts for breakfast cereals.
- Niacinamide – beneficial · Vitamin B3 added for fortification, supports cellular energy metabolism.
- Reduced Iron – beneficial · Iron fortification to prevent deficiency, though synthetic form is less bioavailable than naturally occurring iron.
- Zinc Oxide – beneficial · Zinc fortification for immune function, though oxide form has lower bioavailability than organic zinc compounds.
- Vitamin B6 – beneficial · Essential B vitamin added for fortification, supports protein metabolism and nervous system function.
- Vitamin A Palmitate – beneficial · Synthetic form of vitamin A added for fortification, supports vision and immune function.
- Riboflavin – beneficial · Vitamin B2 fortification for energy metabolism and cellular function.
- Thiamin Mononitrate – beneficial · Synthetic form of vitamin B1 added for fortification, essential for carbohydrate metabolism.
- Folic Acid – beneficial · Synthetic folate added for fortification, important for DNA synthesis and red blood cell formation.
- Vitamin B12 – beneficial · Essential vitamin added for fortification, critical for nervous system function and red blood cell formation.
- Vitamin D – beneficial · Added for bone health and immune function, though most people need more than cereal provides.
Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals
No artificial preservatives
Simple ingredient list
Sugar is the primary ingredient
Contains corn syrup
Artificial caramel coloring
Ultra-processed with minimal whole grain benefits
High glycemic impact
About This Analysis
This ingredient analysis for Puffed Wheat Cereal was performed by Truelabel, an AI-powered food scanner that grades products from A (excellent) to F (failing) based on ingredient quality. The analysis covers seed oil content, ultra-processed ingredients, preservatives, artificial colors, allergens, and potential health risks including cancer risk, hormonal disruption, and gut irritation scores.
Category: Cereal