Cereal

Name: Cereal
Brand: Cheerios

0Avoid

Breakdown

Processed · 14 contaminants flagged · 1 ingredient to avoid

Includes lab results from its product family: Cheerios (oat base)

100

Contaminants

Substances that do not belong in food

−143

aluminum−48

chlormequat−22

inorganic arsenic−21

cadmium−11

arsenic−10

6 more deductions−31

Ingredients

−42

folic acid−6

corn starch−2

tripotassium phosphate−2

vitamin e−2

calcium carbonate−2

14 more deductions−28

Processing

−5

NOVA 3: processed−5

Adjustments

What it takes to land on the final number

+90

Minimum score+90

Final score0

Contaminants · 18

1 at/over limit

Measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)21.4 ppbof 6 ppb

Over the limit — 3.6×US EPA drinking-water MCL, 40 CFR 141.61(c) — 0.006 mg/L. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published DEHP number; the EU food-contact limit is looser (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442: SML 0.6 mg/kg, plus the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit with DBP/BBP/DIBP).

Dibutyl Phthalate40.6 ppbof 120 ppb

34% of the limitEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — DBP SML 0.12 mg/kg (cut from 0.3). Also inside the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit (DBP x5).

Dimethylphthalate3.12 ppbof 10 ppb

31% of the limitDMP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Diisobutyl Phthalate20.2 ppbof 150 ppb

13% of the limitEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 2023/1442 group restriction — DBP x5 + DIBP x4 + BBP x0.1 + DEHP <= 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalents, so DIBP alone may not exceed 0.15 mg/kg. DIBP is not itself an authorised substance.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) Terephthalate0.106 ppmof 60 ppm

<1% of the limitEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — DEHT (FCM 798) SML 60 mg/kg, group restriction with DINCH. No tighter published limit exists (EFSA TDI 1 mg/kg bw/day).

Diethylhexyl Adipate0.0072 ppmof 18 ppm

<1% of the limitEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — DEHA (FCM 207) SML 18 mg/kg.

Benzylbutyl PhthalateNDof 6 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — BBP SML 6 mg/kg (cut from 30). Also inside the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit (BBP x0.1 = 6 mg/kg alone).

Bisphenol a (BPA)NDof 1 ppb

Not detectedEU Reg. (EU) 2024/3190 — BPA banned in food-contact materials from 20 Jan 2025 (old 0.05 mg/kg SML repealed); the residual exemptions require NO detectable migration at a 1 ug/kg detection limit. 1 ppb is therefore the tightest published number.

BpfNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedNot on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), and Reg. 2024/3190 restricts hazardous bisphenols; no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

BPS (Bisphenol s)NDof 50 ppb

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — BPS (4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol) SML 0.05 mg/kg; BfR applies the same 0.05 mg/kg.

Di-n-octyl PhthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDNOP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Dicyclohexyl PhthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDCHP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

DiethylphthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDEP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Dihexyl PhthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDNHP (di-n-hexyl phthalate, EU Repr. 1B) is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Diisodecyl AdipateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDIDA (diisodecyl adipate) is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Diisodecyl PhthalateNDof 1.8 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — DINP+DIDP group SML 1.8 mg/kg (sum). Applied to each alone.

Diisononyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic AcidNDof 60 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — DINCH (FCM 775) group restriction with DEHT, 60 mg/kg. No tighter published limit exists (EFSA TDI 1 mg/kg bw/day).

Diisononyl ortho PhthalateNDof 1.8 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — DINP+DIDP group SML 1.8 mg/kg (sum). Applied to each alone.

Contaminants · 11

5 at/over limit

Includes lab tests of other products in its family

Cheerios (oat base)

Worst result per contaminant across the family

In the family’s tests: measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Aluminum39.4 ppmof 0.2 ppm

Over the limit — 197×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality (secondary/aesthetic), 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.2 mg/L. NOTE: this is a bottled-water level; it is not an FDA limit for aluminum in solid foods, where no comparable federal limit exists.

Measured in: Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz

Cadmium24.4 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 4.9×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Cheerios Cereal, Giant Size, 20 oz

Arsenic45.5 ppbof 10 ppb

Over the limit — 4.5×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.010 mg/L (= EPA MCL)

Measured in: Cheerios Family Size Cereal 18 oz

Glyphosate530 ppbof 160 ppb

Over the limit — 3.3×EWG children's health benchmark 160 ppb (0.01 mg/day in a 60 g serving). EPA tolerance for glyphosate on oats is far higher at 30 ppm (30,000 ppb), 40 CFR 180.364.

Measured in: Cheerios Family Size Cereal 18 oz

Lead7.38 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 1.5×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz

Aminomethylphosphonic Acid9.63 ppbof 160 ppb

6% of the limitNo regulator publishes a food concentration limit for AMPA alone. EFSA (2023 glyphosate conclusion) and JMPR state glyphosate's toxicological reference values apply to AMPA (shared group ADI), so Tallow applies glyphosate's benchmark: EWG children's health benchmark 160 ppb (0.01 mg/day in a 60 g serving). Water-only references: EU drinking water 0.1 ug/L per pesticide/metabolite; Minnesota MDH guidance 1,000 ppb.

Measured in: Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz

Chlormequat134 ppbfound

Detected · no published limit

Measured in: Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz

Inorganic Arsenic23.5 ppbfound

Detected · no published limit

Measured in: Cheerios Cereal, Giant Size, 20 oz

DiquatNDnone found

Not detected

Measured in: Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz

MercuryNDof 2 ppb

Not detectedFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.002 mg/L

Measured in: Cheerios Family Size Cereal 18 oz

ParaquatNDnone found

Not detected

Measured in: Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz

Ingredients · 23

GoodCautionAvoid

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100

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Nutrition facts

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Calories	358.97 kcal	140 kcal
Fat	6.41 g	2.5 g
Saturated fat	1.28 g	0.5 g
Carbohydrates	74.36 g	29 g
Sugars	5.13 g	2 g
Fiber	10.26 g	4 g
Protein	12.82 g	5 g
Sodium	0.49 g	0.19 g

Browse Cereal

Common questions

Is Cheerios Cereal healthy?

Cheerios Cereal scores 0/100 on Tallow — our avoid band. That number comes from what is on the label: the ingredients, how processed it is, and what it is packaged in, plus lab results from its product family, Cheerios (oat base). Per serving it carries 4g fiber, 5g protein and 2g sugar. It is not a verdict on your diet — Tallow does not weigh calories, portion size or how often you eat it, so a high score means the ingredients are clean, not that the food is unlimited.

What is in Cheerios Cereal?

Cheerios Cereal lists 23 ingredients, starting with Whole Grain Oats, Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt and Tripotassium Phosphate. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first few make up most of what you are eating.

How many calories are in Cheerios Cereal?

140 kcal per serving, or 359 kcal per 100g. Calories are only part of the picture — Tallow scores Cheerios Cereal on what the ingredients are, not how many calories they carry.

Does Cheerios Cereal contain seed oils?

No. Nothing in Cheerios Cereal’s ingredient list matches a seed oil — canola, soybean, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, rice bran or peanut oil, or an unspecified "vegetable oil".

How processed is Cheerios Cereal?

Cheerios Cereal is NOVA group 3: processed, but not ultra-processed. NOVA runs 1 to 4, where 1 is whole food and 4 is ultra-processed.

How does Cheerios Cereal compare to other cereal?

At 0/100 Cheerios Cereal scores worse than most cereal we have scored. A higher-scoring option in cereal is Lovebird Grain Free Honey Breakfast Cereal at 100/100.

Is Cheerios Cereal organic?

Cheerios Cereal is not certified organic in our data.

Has Cheerios Cereal been lab tested?

Yes. 18 substances in Cheerios Cereal have a laboratory result on file — see the Contaminants section above for each reading and the limit it was measured against. Other products in its family (Cheerios (oat base)), which share its base recipe, were lab tested too. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Their results are in the family's Contaminants section above.

Does Cheerios Cereal contain heavy metals?

Cheerios Cereal itself has not been tested for heavy metals, but other products in its family, which share its base recipe, have: a lab detected arsenic at 45.5 ppb against a 10 ppb limit in Cheerios Family Size Cereal 18 oz, cadmium at 24.4 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Cheerios Cereal, Giant Size, 20 oz, inorganic arsenic at 23.5 ppb in Cheerios Cereal, Giant Size, 20 oz and lead at 7.38 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Its own results may differ.

Does Cheerios Cereal contain glyphosate?

Cheerios Cereal itself has not been tested for glyphosate, but other products in its family, which share its base recipe, have: a lab detected AMPA at 9.63 ppb against a 160 ppb limit in Honey Nut Cheerios, 10.8 oz and glyphosate at 530 ppb against a 160 ppb limit in Cheerios Family Size Cereal 18 oz. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Its own results may differ.

Does Cheerios Cereal contain phthalates?

Yes. A lab detected DEHP at 21.4 ppb against a 6 ppb limit, dibutyl phthalate at 40.6 ppb against a 120 ppb limit, diisobutyl phthalate at 20.2 ppb against a 150 ppb limit and dimethylphthalate at 3.12 ppb against a 10 ppb limit in Cheerios Cereal. It tested for 7 other phthalates and found none above its detection limit. Each reading is in the Contaminants section above.

Full methodology: how we score products.