Is Special K Original multi-grain touch of cinnamon lightly sweetened wheat, rice and soy flakes cereal, original multi-grain touch of cinnamon ultra-processed?

377 g Mixed cereal flakes Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
Gluten

26 ingredients
No additives

Less processed mixed cereal flakes

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Whole wheat, rice, wheat gluten (ultra-processing marker), sugar (processing marker), soy protein isolate, wheat bran, contains 2% and less of cinnamon, malt flavor (ultra-processing marker), salt (processing marker), natural flavors (ultra-processing marker), bht for freshness, vitamins, minerals (calcium carbonate), reduced iron, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamins, vitamin b2, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin b1 (thiamin hydrochloride), vitamin d3, niacinamide, vitamin b12

As written on the pack

Whole wheat, rice, wheat gluten, sugar, soy protein isolate, wheat bran, contains 2% or less of cinnamon, malt flavor, salt, natural flavors, bht for freshness. vitamins and minerals: calcium carbonate, reduced iron, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin b2 (riboflavin), folic acid, vitamin b1 (thiamin hydrochloride), vitamin d3, niacinamide, vitamin b12.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.

2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 15 mixed cereal flakes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 13th. 47% of the mixed cereal flakes here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 15 mixed cereal flakes, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0038000200663, last edited 4 March 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.