Is Simply Dark Chocolate Almond Granola Cereal Safe? Ingredient Analysis
This page reviews Simply Dark Chocolate Almond Granola Cereal as a cereal. Its current score is 75/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Organic Cornstarch, Natural Flavor.
75 / 100
Why score is 75
This granola cereal contains organic ingredients like whole rolled oats and almonds, but includes processed components like organic milled cane sugar and natural flavor, indicating moderate quality and safety concerns.
Main concern
Contains organic milled cane sugar, a processed sweetener that raises quality concerns.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains organic whole rolled oats, providing a good source of whole grains.
- Includes organic almonds, which add healthy fats and nutrients.
- Uses mixed tocopherols as a natural preservative, enhancing freshness without synthetic additives.
Concerns
- Contains organic milled cane sugar, a processed sweetener that raises quality concerns.
- Natural flavor is vague and may include synthetic components, affecting transparency.
- Organic chocolate chips contain added sugars and fats, which may not align with health-focused diets.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this cereal and why it matters.
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Is Organic Whole Rolled Oats safe in this cereal?
Good
Organic Whole Rolled Oats is used here as base. Whole rolled oats serve as the primary ingredient, providing fiber and essential nutrients, contributing positively to the product's overall quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: Organic whole rolled oats
Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Whole Rolled Oats
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Is Organic Milled Cane Sugar safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Milled Cane Sugar is used here as sweetener. This processed sugar adds sweetness but raises concerns due to its refined nature, which can impact overall healthfulness.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Organic milled cane sugar
Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Milled Cane Sugar
-
Is Organic Brown Rice Flour safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Brown Rice Flour is used here as base. Brown rice flour is a gluten-free alternative that adds texture but is more processed than whole grains, which may affect nutritional value.
Role in formula: base
Original: Organic brown rice flour
Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Brown Rice Flour
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Is Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil is used here as base. This oil is used for texture and moisture but is a processed ingredient, raising concerns about the quality of fats in the product.
Role in formula: base
Original: Organic expeller pressed canola oil
Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil
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Is Organic Chocolate Chips safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Chocolate Chips is used here as flavor. Chocolate chips add flavor but contain added sugars and fats, which may detract from the overall health profile of the cereal.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: organic chocolate chips (organic cocoa liquor, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter)
Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Chocolate Chips
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Is Organic Almonds safe in this cereal?
Good
Organic Almonds is used here as base. Almonds provide healthy fats, protein, and fiber, enhancing the nutritional profile of the cereal and supporting its quality rating.
Role in formula: base
Original: Organic almonds
-
Is Organic Cocoa safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Cocoa is used here as flavor. Processed cocoa adds flavor but may contain additives that affect the overall quality and healthfulness of the product.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: organic cocoa (processed with alkali)
-
Is Organic Cornstarch safe in this cereal?
Bad
Organic Cornstarch is used here as thickener. Cornstarch is a highly processed ingredient used for texture but offers little nutritional value and raises concerns about processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Organic cornstarch
-
Is Organic Oat Syrup Solids safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Oat Syrup Solids is used here as sweetener. Oat syrup solids add sweetness but are processed, which may detract from the overall healthfulness of the product.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Organic oat syrup solids
-
Is Organic Molasses safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Molasses is used here as sweetener. Molasses adds flavor and some nutrients but is still a form of sugar, which can raise concerns about overall sugar content.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Organic molasses
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this cereal?
Bad
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor is vague and may include synthetic components, raising concerns about transparency and quality.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Natural flavor
-
Is Salt safe in this cereal?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt enhances flavor and is a common ingredient in cereals, contributing positively without significant health concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Salt
-
Is Organic Barley Malt Syrup safe in this cereal?
Medium
Organic Barley Malt Syrup is used here as sweetener. This syrup adds sweetness and flavor but is a processed ingredient, which may affect the overall health profile.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Organic barley malt syrup
Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Barley Malt Syrup
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Is Mixed Tocopherols safe in this cereal?
Good
Mixed Tocopherols is used here as preservative. Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to maintain freshness, indicating a preference for natural preservation methods.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin e to maintain freshness)
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3868844
Similar products: cereal in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: almond
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.