Is Cheerios Oat Crunch Berry Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and dive straight into the label. At first glance, the ingredient list for Cheerios Oat Crunch Berry looks promising for a vegan diet. The base consists of whole grain oats and whole grain corn, which are entirely plant-derived. The sweetness comes from a combination of sugar, corn syrup, and modified corn starch. While some strict vegans avoid refined white sugar due to the bone char filtration process used by some manufacturers, General Mills typically uses a mix of sources that are not explicitly bone-char filtered, though this remains a gray area for many.

The fruit component is also relatively clean. The product lists raspberry puree, blueberry puree, and strawberry puree. Unlike artificial flavors which can sometimes hide animal compounds, these purees are straightforward fruit concentrates. The oils used—canola and/or sunflower oil—are plant-based. Even the colors are derived from vegetable and fruit juice, caramel color, and annatto extract, all of which are vegan-friendly sources.

However, the dealbreaker appears at the very end of the ingredient list: Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form of Vitamin D used in this cereal to fortify the product. In the vast majority of food fortifications, Vitamin D3 is synthesized from lanolin, which is the waxy substance extracted from sheep's wool. Since this is an animal byproduct, its inclusion makes the cereal non-vegan. While Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is a common vegan alternative derived from fungi, General Mills opted for D3 here.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Cheerios Oat Crunch Berry is positioned as a fortified breakfast option. It provides a significant amount of vitamins and minerals, including calcium carbonate, iron, zinc, and a full spectrum of B vitamins. However, the sugar content is a major consideration. The combination of sugar and corn syrup pushes the sugar count per serving relatively high compared to plain Cheerios. For those monitoring their glycemic index or caloric intake, this cereal is more of a treat than a health staple. The fat content is moderate, derived mostly from the canola and sunflower oils added for texture and flavor coating. While it fits within standard diet limits for a single meal, it is not a low-sugar or low-calorie option.