# Are cereals good for you? - Frequently Asked Questions Wondering about whole grain? Curious about corn? Interested in Iron? We get all asked all sorts of questions about our delicious breakfast cereals. Click below to find answers to the one's we're asked most frequently. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help. View all Fortification Gluten Free Health Ingredients Labelling Nestle Breakfast Cereals Recipes SUNFLOWER OIL Sustainability Whole Grain Apply ## SUNFLOWER OIL ### Why do you have oil in your cereals? While half of our European portfolio doesn’t contain any oil (mainly our flakes) the other half of our recipes feature oil on the ingredient list. Its primary use is to help in the manufacturing process: it acts as a lubricant when we are shaping the product and, helps avoiding stickiness. In some products oil plays a role in the sensory profile – how the product feels and tastes in the mouth. ## Labelling ### What else are you going to do to encourage better breakfasts? We believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day And so, a balanced and nutritious breakfast is key. Thus, we are committed to offering our consumers healthy and tasty cereals. Breakfast refuels the body and brain with energy and provides essential nutrients to start the day, and we believe a healthy breakfast sets a positive tone for the day ahead. ### What is the Health Star Rating System? (Australia & New Zealand only) The Health Star Rating is a front-of-pack labelling system that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged food and assigns it a rating from ½ a star to 5 stars. It was developed by the Australian, state and territory governments in collaboration with industry, public health and consumer groups and was firstly used on food packages in 2014. ### What is Colour-Coded Front of Pack nutrition labelling? Colour-coded labels include systems such as the Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) label that’s been used in the United Kingdom since 2005. Each color is associated with the nutrient amount: red for a high amount, amber for a moderate amount, and green for a low amount. The scheme provides information for sugar, salt, fat and saturated fats, and informs the quantity of calories and kilojoules in that product. ### What is the Nutri-Score System? Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack nutritional label that classifies food and beverages according to their nutritional profile. It is a color-coded system with a scale ranging from A to E. It was developed by French independent scientists and approved by French authorities to be used voluntarily. The system allows a holistic understanding of the nutritional quality of a product, to enable people to make informed decisions towards healthier diets. ### What is Front of Pack Warning Symbol? Front of Pack Warning Symbol is a nutrition labelling scheme which advises when the level of nutrients concern for NCDs (sugar, calories, sodium and saturated fats) exceeds what is considered a healthy amount in pre-packaged foods. ### Do you think nutrition labelling systems can be misleading for consumers? The objective of Nutritional labelling systems is to help consumers make better and informed food choices. While some FOPL schemes rate the overall nutrient quality of a product, others make emphasis on nutrients to control. But overall, the most important thing is that consumers understand the meaning of these schemes and how they work, so they can use them correctly to compare and be in control of their shopping habits. ### How much of this reformulation or renovation work has been forced on you by governments? We’re very proud of our products but we’re always looking for ways to further improve their nutritional profile and we have spent the last [Please input the # of years according to your market] years working in the reformulation journey across our product portfolio. Our teams have worked to create recipes with more whole grain and fibre, and less salt and sugar all, while keeping the same great taste our consumers love. Although many governments have recently bought in goals for sugar and salt reduction for all food manufacturers, we started this journey back in 2003. ### How do your products perform in the FOPL systems? Why do they score so well? At Nestlé Breakfast Cereals, our priority is to make cereals that are tasty and healthy. Over the last 18 years, we have been working hard to improve our recipes, continually reformulating the recipes to increase the amount of whole grain, lowering sodium and sugar, and removing artificial colors and flavors – while maintaining the great taste people love. The main ingredient across our cereal portfolio is whole grain, which brings nutritional benefits like fibre, and which largely contributes for the great scores on some of our cereals. ### How much reformulation work has been forced on you? We’re proud of our products, but always look for ways to improve their nutritional profile. Over the last decade we've reformulated our portfolio to bring more whole grain & fibre, less salt & sugar. Read [more](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/our-promises/better-food) ### How do your products perform in the FoPL systems? Having whole grain as the main ingredient across our cereal range brings nutritional benefits like fibre that contributes to the great scores on some of our cereals. Also, our continued recipe improvements play their part, depending on the product. Read [more](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/cereal-benefits) ### What is your Front of Pack Labelling system? (FoPL) We are committed to implementing the relevant FoPL system requested by the authorities in each country. Whether it be the Health Star Rating system (HSR), Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL), Reference Intakes (RIs) or Warning Symbol.[ Read more here.](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/cereal-benefits) ## Nestle Breakfast Cereals ### WHAT IS A SERVING SIZE OF CHEERIOS®? The recommended serving of one portion of Cheerios® cereal is 30g. ### WHAT ARE CHEERIOS® MADE OF? Nestlé® Cheerios® ingredients include whole grain oat flour, whole grain wheat and whole grain barley flour. There is 2.8 grams of protein in a 30g portion of Cheerios®. ### ARE CHEERIOS® GLUTEN FREE? No Cheerios® in the UK are made with natural whole grains so each bowl is naturally high in fibre, but includes ingredients that are not suitable for coeliacs (oats, wheat and barley). The [Nestlé® GoFre](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/brands/go-free)e®[ cereal range is 100% gluten free](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/uk/brands/go-free), offering great taste with ingredients suitable for people who are gluten intolerant. Take a look! ### ARE CHEERIOS® GOOD FOR YOU? Every bowl of Cheerios® is a good source of fibre, vitamin and minerals, including Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Iron and Calcium. ### Who are Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW)? [Cereal Partners Worldwide ](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/our-promises/about-cpw)(CPW), is the maker of Nestlé Breakfast Cereals. CPW was founded by Nestlé and General Mills in 1990 and the company’s reach is global with around 4’000 employees spanning 15 factories and 130 different countries around the world. ## Recipes ### What are some easy breakfast ideas for my family? Looking for kid-friendly breakfast ideas that even picky eaters can get onboard with? Click [here ](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/cereal-recipes)to find inspiration to make the most important meal of the day, the most exciting one! You'll also find [Recipes](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/cereal-recipes) to find other ways to eat our breakfast cereals ## Sustainability ### How are you making cereal packaging more sustainable? By 2025 100% of our packaging designed for recycling (moving from 85% widely recyclable, 13% designed for recycling, and 2% not recyclable). Currently, 98% of our packaging is designed for recycling. Read more [here.](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/our-promises/better-planet) ## Whole Grain ### Why is Whole grain important? Whole grain provides a range benefits – fibre, carbohydrates, proteins, some lipids and B vitamins, Minerals and antioxidants. You'll find at least 8g of whole grain per 30g serving from any of our breakfast cereals with the Nestlé Green Banner! [Read more](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/whole-grain) ### What exactly is whole grain? Every grain grows whole grain, but a grain is only a whole grain if it has all three parts intact which are all full of nutrients - this includes: • The bran • The endosperm (starchy centre) • The germ (the core with the seed) Find out [more](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/whole-grain) ## Gluten Free ### Which Nestlé breakfast cereals are Gluten Free? We produce corn flakes & rice pops, with availability differing across markets. They’re suitable for people looking for great-tasting breakfast cereal with no gluten, for example people with Coeliac Disease or gluten intolerance. For more detail click[ here](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/blog/healthy-breakfast/gluten-free). ### What is gluten? The general name for proteins found in cereal grains such as wheat. It holds the food together, like a ‘glue’, and gives dough its elasticity. [Read more ](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/blog/healthy-breakfast/gluten-free)about a gluten free breakfast. ## Health ### How are you making breakfast better? Over the last decade our teams have been continuously working on improving our recipes: increasing the amount of whole grain, lowering the sugar and salt, and removing artificial colors and flavors. Read more [here.](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/our-promises/better-food) ### How much cereal should I eat each day? Approximate cereal portion guidance is: 25 to 30 grams for children and 30 to 45 grams for adults. To be sure about your product, check the packaging. Read [more here](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/blog/healthy-breakfast/cereal-serving-size). ### What is a balanced breakfast? You should have a mix of carbohydrates, fibre, protein, vitamins & minerals, and you can choose pretty much what you like, as long as you pick from the different food groups: grains, fruit and dairy - and of course a glass of water. Read [more](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/blog/healthy-breakfast/cereal-serving-size) ### Can Breakfast cereals be healthier? We’re proud of our products, but know we have to go further. We want to live up to our consumers’ expectations and continue to make our breakfasts better – creating nutritious cereals which still offer the great taste our consumers love. Read [more](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/our-promises/better-food) ### Is Breakfast Cereal healthy? Breakfast Cereals can be part of a healthy and balanced diet: - 99% of the Nestle Cereals portfolio has 3g or more fiber per 100g - Over 76% of our cereals have equal to or less than 2 teaspoons of sugar (7.5g) per 30g serving - 95% of our cereals have less than 450mg of sodium per 100g" ## Ingredients ### Is 'vegetable oil' the same as 'palm oil'? Not necessarily. Not all vegetable oil is palm oil. A whole range of different types of vegetable oils are used in food products. Some are palm oil, but not all. Many other oils are used, like coconut, sunflower or rapeseed oil. ### How much saturated fat does palm oil contain? About 50%, which is about the same as products like butter. However, we only use small amounts of palm oil in most of our breakfast cereals, meaning no significant impact on the amount of saturated fat in our products. ### Do Nestlé breakfast cereals contain palm oil? Yes. Some Nestlé breakfast cereals only contain a small amount of palm oil, but it does not contribute significantly to the daily intake of saturated fatty acids. ### Why is salt added to Nestlé breakfast cereals? We add a pinch of salt to our cereals to improve their taste & texture. It also improves product shelf life. We have been working to reduce salt levels in our cereals over the last years, already cutting salt by 25% on average. Click here to find out more. ### How do I know how much sugar is in Nestlé breakfast cereals? Simply check our packaging, clearly labelled in line food labelling requirements. ### Why is the sugar content in cereal high? Sugars from breakfast cereals make up around 5% of the average daily intake of added sugars for adults. Since 2014 we have reduced sugar in our products by 10%. Today, the majority of our portfolio contains less than 1.5 teaspoon in one serving. Read more about [our ingredients here.](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/cereal-benefits) ### Do Nestlé breakfast cereals contain a lot of sugar? Our cereals do contain sugar - but it isn’t the main ingredient as cereal is made mostly from grain. Since 2014 we have reduced sugar in our products by 10%. [Click here](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/cereal-ingredients) to read out more about our efforts to improve the nutritional profile of our cereals. * on average in our recipes, between 2003 and 2018 since 2014. While the reformulations started in 2003, the reporting is taken on the last decade for compliance and utmost accuracy. Calculations are based on the differences between Nestlé-branded breakfast cereals and bars total 2014 and 2024 volumes. [ ](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/cereal-ingredients) ## Fortification ### Why are cereals fortified? When cereals are ‘fortified’, it means they contain added vitamins and minerals to help our body work well. One 30g serving of a Nestlé fortified cereal can help your family get the vitamins and minerals they need every day. [Read more here](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/fortified-cereal) ### Does Nestle breakfast cereals have Iron? Yes, many are a source of iron, added via the fortification process. It’s a bonus for your family as research has shown that both kids and grownups who eat fortified cereals are more likely get all the minerals and vitamins they need. Read more about Iron here [Read more about Iron here](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/fortified-cereal) ### What minerals and vitamins does Nestlé fortify its breakfast cereals with? Most Nestlé breakfast cereals are usually fortified with a minimum of 5 vitamins (B2, B6, niacin or B3, pantothenic acid or B5, folic acid or B9 and, in some recipes, vitamin D), and 2 minerals (calcium and iron). Read more here. [Read more here.](https://www.nestle-cereals.com/global/nutrition/fortified-cereal) [![Any questions](/global/sites/g/files/qirczx806/files/styles/1_1_768px_width/public/2022-07/NESTLE_CEREALSTORY_DAY4_1.113.1.jpg.webp?h=6840eff1&itok=PP-EqEzh)](mailto:%20CPW.Comms@nestle.com) ## [Any questions or feedback? ](mailto:%20CPW.Comms@nestle.com) We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’ve a question about any of our cereals, want to share some feedback, or even share your breakfast ideas. Simply send us an email [EMAIl US]()