Are Cheerios Gluten-Free?
Cheerios are manufactured by General Mills Inc. and yes, they are gluten-free. Most varieties of Cheerios are safe and certified gluten-free so just look for the gluten-free label on the front of the box. Also, it is important to note that some people may still have issues because of the oats.
Cheerios are Gluten-Free!
Most varieties of Cheerios are certified gluten-free including:
- Cheerios (Original)
- Honey Nut Cheerios
- Multi-Grain Cheerios
- Strawberry Cheerios
- Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
- Frosted Cheerios
Cheerios Ingredients (Original)
Whole Grain Oats, Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt, Tripotassium, Phosphate, Vitamin E Added to Preserve Freshness.
Cheerios Nutrition Info
Serving Size: 1 cup (28g)
Total Calories: 100
Calories from Fat: 15
| Amount Per Serving | %DV * |
| Total Fat 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat 0.5g | 3% |
| Trans Fat 0g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g | |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0.5g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 140mg | 6% |
| Potassium 180mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate 20g | 7% |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | 11% |
| Sugars 1g | |
| Other Carbohydrate 16g | |
| Protein 3g | |
| Vitamin A | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 10% |
| Calcium | 10% |
| Iron | 45% |
| Vitamin D | 10% |
| Zinc | 25% |
| Thiamin | 25% |
| Riboflavin | 2% |
| Niacin | 25% |
| Vitamin B6 | 25% |
| Folic Acid | 50% |
| Vitamin B12 | 25% |
| Phosphorus | 10% |
| Magesium | 8% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Source: Cheerios Nutrition
Cheerios Journey to Gluten-Free
Click here to see how they make Cheerios gluten-free. The head of Cheerio’s R&D department has a daughter-in-law with Celiac Disease and he went on a mission to make them gluten-free.
Img src: Wikia
Cheerios History
Cheerios is a popular breakfast cereal that is distinguished by its unique ‘O’ shaped puffed oats and is popular among children and adults alike. The product is owned by General Mills, a U.S. based cereal making company that is also marketed by Nestle in the U.K. and 130 other countries where Nestle has a presence. This cereal is available in a variety of flavors and variations to choose from, all of which are advertised as healthy and nutritious breakfast options.
It all started in 1941 when the company introduced CheeriOats as a ready-to-consume oat cereal. The name was specifically coined to differentiate it from other cereal brands on the market. However, another manufacturer named Quaker Oats considered this name an infringement to their own, claiming that they had already trademarked the ‘Oats’ part before them. While it’s unlikely that Quaker Oats would have won this contention before a court, to avoid further disagreement, they willingly changed their name to Cheerios in 1945.
As for the signature ‘O’ shape, it came after deliberation where 10 different designs and shapes of all sizes were considered for the Cheerios brand, before the creators finally settled on a small ‘o’ shape as the official cereal shape. By 1951, Cheerios had become a top-selling brand under the ownership of General Mills. Today, it still continues to dominate the cereal market with an estimated 1/8 of all cereal box purchases in the United States being Cheerios.
Their products are 100% gluten-free. All traces of wheat, barley, and rye have been removed from the ingredients before production. Only pure oats are used for making Cheerios and customers are assured of the same great taste but without the gluten. The product is marketed as a healthy alternative to ‘bad’ cholesterol. The original Cheerios brand also contains a single gram of sugar per serving, unlike other competitor brands like Lucky Charms which has 10 grams and Fruit Loops which has 12 grams.
Hi, Brian! Who certifies Cheerios for GF status? I’m curious because we’ve been told they’re not safe and although they’re tested by GM, the practices aren’t standard and no outside group has verified the claim. Seeing third-party certification would ease my mind! Thank you!
I’ve yet to see Cheerios certified GF, as they don’t use GF Oats, so this posting is quite surprising. Cheerios make my Celiac family members sick, and they are fine with oats otherwise (when gf.) We’d love to see Cheerios use GF Oats in their variety. We miss them.