Good & Gather French Vanilla Almond Granola — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates Good & Gather French Vanilla Almond Granola by Good & Gather ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

Oats and almonds are in there, but so is the classic hyper-palatable triad: cane sugar, refined canola oil, and refined rice flour and cornstarch. At 50g sugar per 100g, half of what you pour out of the bag is sugar. This is a dessert wearing a health-food label.

Why this verdict

• Hyper-palatable triad: cane sugar plus canola oil plus refined rice flour and cornstarch
• 50g sugar per 100g — roughly half the product by weight
• Two sweetener sources: cane sugar and barley malt syrup
• NOVA 4, with refined-starch bulking and added natural flavor

Ingredients (8)

• Whole Rolled Oats{)) (safe) — The one genuinely good ingredient; provides some fiber.
• Milled Cane Sugar (caution) — Second ingredient by weight — a huge sugar load for a breakfast food.
• expeller pressed canola oil (moderate) — Refined oil contributing additional fat and calories.
• rice flour (moderate) — Refined starch that completes the fast-carb triad.
• Almonds (safe) — Whole nut, healthy fats, protein, fiber, and vitamin E.
• cornstarch (moderate) — Refined starch filler for crunch and shape.
• Natural flavor (moderate) — Nonspecific flavoring; the only vague, non-whole ingredient in the jar.
• Barley Malt Syrup (caution) — A second sweetener stacked on top of the cane sugar.

Healthier alternatives

• Original Ancient Grain Granola
• Bio&Me Cocoa & Hazelnut Protein Granola
• Bio&Me Low Sugar, Naturally Gut-Loving Granola
• Bio&Me Granola Super Nutty
• Lizi's Low Sugar Granola Nuts & Seeds