For too many families, these breakfast cereals aren’t a sweet treat, rather, they’re considered breakfast on a daily basis. The Environmental Working Group has just released its list of overly sweetened cereals in a report entitled: “Children’s Cereals: Sugar by the Pound.” It’s worth a read because sending a child to school after eating a sugary mess sets them up for the ups and downs that sugar–or in most cases high fructose corn syrup–is known to cause. Not to mention the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives that processed cereals typically also contain.
The report found that in the list of cereals “92 percent of cold cereals in the US come preloaded with added sugars.” Children’s cereals had an average of 40 percent more sugar than adult cereals or oatmeal. Granola also tended to have a lot of sugar. What’s more, 97 percent of the cereals listed underestimated the amount of cereal that people actually ate. Looking for a healthy breakfast for kids? Skip these.
EWG Reports on the Most Sugary List of Cereals
Here’s EWG’s Hall of Shame—Cereals That Contain More the 50 Percent of Sugar By Weight.
Most Sugary Cereals (Overall)
1. Kellogg’s Honey Smacks
2. Malt-O-Meal Golden Puffs
3. Mom’s Best Cereals Honey-Ful Wheat
4. Malt-O-Meal Berry Colossal Crunch with Marshmallows
5. Post Golden Crisp
6. Grace Instant Green Banana Porridge
7. Blanchard & Blanchard Granola
Store Brands
8. Lieber’s Cocoa Frosted Flakes
9. Lieber’s Honey Ringee Os
10. Food Lion Sugar Frosted Wheat Puffs
11. Krasdale Fruity Circles
12. Safeway Kitchens Silly Circles
Most Sugary Cereals (Targeted Specifically at Children)
1. Kellogg’s Honey Smacks
2. Malt-O-Meal Golden Puffs
3. Post Golden Crisp
4. Kellogg’s Apple Jacks with Marshmallows
5. Kellogg’s Froot Loops with Marshmallows
Store Brands
6. Food Lion Sugar Frosted Wheat Puffs
7. Krasdale Fruity Circles
8. Safeway Kitchens Silly Circles
9. Food Club Honey Puffed Wheat
10. Key Food Apple Wheels Cereal
11. Shur Saving Apple Whirls
12. Safeway Kitchens Apple Orbits
13. Essential Everyday Golden Corn Nuggets
Read the whole EWG Report.
Related on Organic Authority
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Too Soon? Kashi Launches Certified Organic Cereals Weeks After GMO Backlash
Some Breakfast Cereals Marketed to Children Are More Than 50% Sugar
Image: Mike Mozart