Cereal
What is Cereal?
Cereal, when listed as an ingredient, typically refers to processed grains or breakfast cereal products made from common grains like corn, wheat, rice, or oats. These grains are often cooked, flaked, puffed, or extruded and then dried.
Is Cereal vegan?
Cereal is not animal-derived. Products that contain it can still include other animal-derived ingredients, so check the full ingredient list.
Is Cereal gluten-free?
Depending on the specific grains used, cereal can contain major allergens like wheat, which is a source of gluten.
What is Cereal used for?
Manufacturers add cereal to products for bulk, texture, and flavor.
Is Cereal safe?
Cereal grains are staple foods and are not regulated as food additives by the FDA.
Why it's used
Manufacturers add cereal to products for bulk, texture, and flavor. In snack and granola bars, it forms the base and provides crunch. In frozen dinners, it can be used as a breading, a filler, or as part of a side dish.
Health notes
Cereal grains are staple foods and are not regulated as food additives by the FDA. As whole foods or minimally processed foods, they are generally recognized as safe. Specific grains like wheat or corn may be subject to dietary restrictions for some individuals, such as those with gluten intolerance. JECFA and EFSA evaluate specific food additives, not general food ingredients like "cereal."
Allergen info
Depending on the specific grains used, cereal can contain major allergens like wheat, which is a source of gluten. Other common cereal grains include corn, rice, and oats.
Foods that contain Cereal
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