Special K
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Special K, current as of September 2026. Screening averages and flag shares live in the short-answer band below. This hero only situates the catalog slice.
The short answer
Special K averages 89.2/100 across the 32 of 45 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 21.9% of those contain at least one separately flagged ingredient. The figure summarizes Open Food Facts labels cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI; it does not establish recall status, allergy suitability, or the composition of products outside this snapshot.
- 89.2/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 32 scored products
- 45
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 21.9%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 100%
- of NOVA-classified products that are ultra-processed (Group 4)
Source snapshot current as of September 2026; open individual products before making a product-specific decision.
Portfolio reading
Use the distribution, then open the outliers
With 45 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Special K protien shake; Kellogg’s special K Rich Chocolate Protien Shake; Strawberry Banana Flavored Protein Shake, Strawberry Banana; 21.9% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 89.2/100. Open those outliers first, then compare neighboring formulations. The aggregate does not establish recall status, allergen suitability, or the composition of an item outside this snapshot.
Catalog evidence
Ingredient-list coverage comes before the score
Only 32 of 45 tracked Special K records (71.1%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 13 cannot be screened, so the 89.2/100 mean describes the labelled subset rather than the whole brand.
Next check: use the product rows below to verify the labelled subset, then compare the current package for any unscored item.
What the Data Says About Special K
Special K: 45 products tracked, 32 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 89.2/100, 21.9% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 71.1% of tracked records, this average is a description of the labelled subset, not a brand-wide tier. The coverage gap is the dominant limitation. Scoring methodology + dye-pledge context →
Processing mix (NOVA)
Special K processing intensity
Special K's NOVA-classified set is 32 products: 100% ultra-processed (Group 4, 32 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 32. That ultra-processed share sits 21.7 points above the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
- G1
- 0
- G2
- 0
- G3
- 0
- G4 ultra
- 32 (100%)
Shelf mix
Where Special K shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Special K concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (17, 53% of this top-five); Snacks (11); Beverages (3); Dairies (1).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant-based foods and beverages | 16 | 98.1/100 | 12.5% |
| Snacks | 11 | 100/100 | 0% |
| Beverages | 3 | 26.7/100 | 100% |
Portfolio shape
How scores cluster inside this brand
The brand average (89.2/100) summarizes 32 scored products. This distribution shows whether that mean sits on a tight cluster or a wide spread, a few low-scoring SKUs can matter even when the headline average looks strong.
Special K product score distribution
Brand average 89.2/100 across 32 scored products
89 16th percentile sits above 16% of the 32 scored products we track
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more scored products. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Distribution as text
- 0–10
- 2 scored products (6%)
- 20–30
- 1 scored products (3%)
- 80–90
- 4 scored products (13%)
- 100 and above
- 25 scored products (78%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Sucralose is the flagged ingredient Special K uses most
Across the 32 Special K products scored here, Sucralose appears in 6. Only 1,692 other brands here use it (4.8%), which makes it a more particular choice than the flags that dominate the catalogue. A flag records that a named source raised a concern about an ingredient. It is not a finding that a product is unsafe to eat.
| Flagged ingredient | Special K products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Sucralose | 6 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Acesulfame Potassium | 3 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Red 3 | 3 | FDA ban effective 2027-01-15 · Restricted: California (AB 418; effective 2027-01-01); Federal (FDA; effective 2027-01-15) |
| Yellow 6 | 3 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| BHT | 1 | Preservative with a recorded concern |
| Blue 1 | 1 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Caramel Coloring | 1 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Yellow 5 | 1 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
Counts are products in this database whose ingredient list names the flagged ingredient. Flags come from FDA enforcement actions, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings and US state ingredient laws; see the methodology for how each source is applied.
Visible product sample
Label complexity does not determine the screening result
Each point is one of the 32 concern-sorted Special K records shown below. Horizontal position is the number of resolved ingredients on that product's stored label; vertical position is its source-derived screening score. The dashed medians (24.5 ingredients and 100/100) divide this displayed sample only. A longer label is not automatically worse: open a specific product to inspect its flagged rows and source coverage.
- Shown records
- 32
- Median label
- 24.5 ingredients
- Median score
- 100/100
The outlined point is Special K protien shake, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (5). Bubble size represents flagged ingredient count plus one, so zero-flagged products remain visible. The score is derived from FDA SAFFA and CSPI fields; this chart does not establish recall status, dietary suitability, or a health outcome.
Read the plotted values
- Special K protien shake: 16 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Kellogg’s special K Rich Chocolate Protien Shake: 45 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Strawberry Banana Flavored Protein Shake, Strawberry Banana: 43 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Special K Protein Shake: 40 resolved ingredients, 80/100, 2 flagged.
- Special K zero: 14 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Fruit & Yogurt: 25 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Strawberry Crème Special K Cereal: 12 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Kellogg'S Special K Cereal Bars Cashew Pretzel 1.79Oz: 51 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Vanilla Almond Flavored Crunchy Rice And Wheat Flakes With Almonds And Vanilla Cereal, Vanilla Almond: 26 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Special K: 23 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Kellogg'S Special K Cereal Bars Cranberry Almond 1.16Oz: 22 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Dark chocolate pistachio: 29 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Kellogg'S Special K Cereal Bars Caramel Pretzel Cashew 1.23Oz: 39 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chocolate almond chewy nut bars: 30 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pastry Crisps: 46 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Pastry crisps: 43 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Multi-grain flakes with quinoa cereal, apple raspberry almond: 44 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Protein Honey almond ancient grains: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Original multi-grain touch of cinnamon lightly sweetened wheat, rice and soy flakes cereal, original multi-grain touch of cinnamon: 22 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Breakfast cereal original: 23 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Special K Blueberry: 24 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Blueberry Cereal, Blueberry: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Red Berries Crunchy Wheat & Rice Flakes With Real Strawberries Cereal, Red Berries: 22 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Special K Blueberry: 25 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- 12g protein meal bar, double chocolate: 47 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Kellogg'S Special K Cereal Bars Cookies & Creme .88Oz: 43 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Special K Protein Original Multi-Grain Touch of Cinnamon: 10 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Red Berries: 23 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Berries and Dark Chocolate: 38 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Special K Red Berries: 23 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Protein Granola: 24 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Brownie Batter Protein Meal Bars: 14 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
Products by Special K
Showing 45 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first).
Nationwide brands with similar catalog profiles
Two PlainFoodSafe-derived peer sets for Special K: closest on tracked product count (45 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (89.2/100 here). Rows stay link-disjoint so each axis is a distinct neighborhood, not a largest-catalog strip.
Similar average screening score
Nearest other brands by average ingredient screening score (floored at ≥50 scored products), distinct from the count row.
Counts and averages from Open Food Facts labels screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine; neither axis is a health outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Special K food safe? ▼
Special K has an average safety score of 89/100 across the 32 of 45 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 21.9% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Special K products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 45 Special K products. 32 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 13 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Special K catalog? ▼
Special K has 32 NOVA-classified products; 100% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 32 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Special K catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Special K concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (17, 53% of this top-five); Snacks (11); Beverages (3); Dairies (1).
Does Special K use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Special K items list a synthetic dye on their label. For whether the company has committed to removing dyes, the FDA and CSPI both publish corporate-commitment trackers; we no longer restate those commitments here.
What to do with this Special K profile
Use this roll-up as orientation, then verify the specific package you hold against its ingredient panel and the named official sources.
- Start with Special K protien shake, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (5) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Sucralose appears in 6 scored Special K products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Special K's 89.2/100 average and 21.9% flagged share against other brands before treating either figure as a recall or clearance signal. Brand safety rankings
- Cross-check any additive concern against FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine rather than relying on this derived index alone. Scoring methodology
A flagged ingredient records a source concern, not a recall, ban, or medical clearance. Always verify the current package label and consult official sources for product-specific decisions.
Citation & disclaimer notes
Brand scores aggregate ingredient-level FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings across Open Food Facts product data. See our methodology. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe.Disclaimer: Informational purposes only; not professional advice. A flagged ingredient is not a recall or a ban. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainFoodSafe is rendered directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no number is typed in by an editor. Brand figures are computed directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 2026.
