Dark chocolate & hazelnut CRISP by Sainsbury’s — ENGINEERED

Name: Dark chocolate & hazelnut CRISP by Sainsbury’s
Brand: Sainsburys

Munch or Dump rates Dark chocolate & hazelnut CRISP by Sainsbury’s by Sainsburys ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

A wholegrain oat base buried under sugar from four different sources, two refined oils, two emulsifier systems, and a vague ‘flavouring’. The oats are real; the rest is built for craving.

Why this verdict

Sugar appears four separate ways (sugar, rice-crisp sugar, chocolate-curl sugar, sugar syrup powder)
Two refined oils — sunflower oil and palm oil
Two emulsifier systems (sunflower lecithin and soya lecithin)
Generic ‘Flavouring’ with nothing disclosed
Named for hazelnuts but they’re only 3%

Ingredients (12)

Wholegrain Oat Flakes (52%) (safe) — Genuine wholegrain, the real fibre and the one strong ingredient here.
Sugar (concerning) — Added refined sugar, listed high - spikes blood sugar with no nutrition.
Rice Crisp (Rice Flour, Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Lecithin) (moderate) — Refined rice flour plus more added sugar; spikes blood sugar fast.
Sunflower Oil (moderate) — Refined plant oil high in omega-6 fats - fine in moderation but adds calories and shifts the fat balance away from the fish's natural omega-3s.
Emulsifier (Sunflower lecithin, Barley Malt Extract) (moderate) — First of two emulsifier systems used to bind the clusters — a sign of industrial formulation.
Dark Chocolate Curls (Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Butter Oil, Soya Lecithin, Vanilla Extract) (moderate) — Real dark chocolate but carries its own added sugar and a second emulsifier (soya lecithin).
Wheat Flakes] (safe) — Grain flake, neutral filler.
Palm Oil (moderate) — Refined oil high in saturated fat, used in both the spread and the breadsticks for cheap richness.
Hazelnuts (3%) (safe) — Real nuts but a token 3% despite top billing on the front of pack.
Nibbed Almonds (safe) — Whole nut, a small positive.
flavouring (moderate) — Undisclosed flavour compound; vague and unnecessary in real porridge.
Sugar Syrup Powder (concerning) — Yet another added sugar, the fourth distinct sweetener source in the list.

Healthier alternatives

Mesa Sunrise Gluten Free Cereal Flakes