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Although seating is already available inside the building at Bridgend Bus Station, there is no seating facilities on the outside of the building.
When Bridgend Bus Station was opened in 2004, bench style seating was situated outside on Bay No. 11. However, this has since been removed due to anti-social behaviour and replaced with perch style seating.
Unfortunately, the outside layout around the rest of the building doesn’t have sufficient space for seating. However, the request for outside seating will be included in the ongoing improvements programme currently taking place at Bridgend Bus Station.
In terms of water fountains. A drinking water fountain/bottle refilling station is currently sited at our Porthcawl Metrolink, and other sites will also be considered, including Bridgend Bus Station.
The Cardiff Bus website page Mobility Scooters on Cardiff Bus Services – Cardiff Bus refers. I have asked Gareth at Cardiff Bus earlier today if he can further advise on events for this being planned in the Vale (Penarth & Barry) and await further advice.
The Prime Minister is in ‘listening mode’, according to Downing Street
Downing Street has announced a big update on Andy Burnham. The PM will kick off a national tour this week to ask the public how the Government can improve their lives. Officials said the Prime Minister would be in “listening mode” as he spends much of the rest of August travelling the country to discuss the cost of living.
Having promised to give the public “breathing space”, he is expected to unveil a series of measures intended to help with bills, following on from cuts to energy costs and a £2 cap on bus fares announced in his first week in Downing Street.
Mr Burnham will also focus on improving high streets and officials said he would use the summer tour to inform his 10-year plan for the country. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said he would be “getting out of Westminster and meeting people where they are”.
They added: “He thinks Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles – like hidden pricing and consumers being ripped off – must be accepted as part of life. He doesn’t think that’s right. That’s why he’s going to start rolling out a series of pro-consumer cost-of-living measures to give people some room to breathe.”
With the fallout of the Iran war keeping inflation higher than expected, the cost of living remains a major concern among the public. A poll published by Ipsos at the end of July found 30% of people listed the economy as a major concern while 22% listed inflation or prices specifically.
But opposition figures have accused Mr Burnham of “tinkering” with his announcements. Reform UK’s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick said the Prime Minister should “scrap green levies and taxes on energy bills”, and rule out tax rises in October’s budget.
He added: “It’s high time the Labour Party cut the ballooning benefits bill so we can relieve pressure on the hardworking majority that hold our country together.”
Similarly, here in Wales, Plaid Cymru made numerous references to hope as part of their campaign messaging ahead of the recent Senedd elections, including in the opening lines of their manifesto.
In many ways, this focus is timely: following nearly two decades of uncertainty and upheaval, many people are understandably finding it difficult to look to the future with confidence and optimism, something recently reflected by an Age Cymru survey which found 40 per cent of older people are not optimistic about the year ahead.
Hope is important and can be hugely powerful, enabling us to imagine better ways of doing things, determine how we get there and inspire us to work towards this.
But this focus also inevitably frames action and progress as something that will happen in the future, shifting our attention away from what can be achieved today and tempering our expectations.
The Prime Minister’s announcement on social care – described as ‘offering hope’ by a number of commentators – is a good example of this. While the announcement was both welcome and important, little detail has been shared about what the immediate response to the issues facing social care services will be, and what this might mean in terms of consequential resources and support for Wales.
As highlighted in my recent briefing paper on Social Care in Wales, action across a number of key areas would improve people’s experiences and the quality of care and support without the need for significant reform (although this does remain important).
Yet it seems that older people experiencing issues with social care today may be waiting a long time to see the improvements they need to enable them to live safely and independently, and have the best possible quality of life.
Many older people have bluntly described to me the reality that they don’t have ‘many years’ to wait for change, while others are understandably cynical about what will actually be delivered, given that successive governments have promised significant social care reform that has failed to materialise.
The growing emphasis on hope is understandable: people want reasons to feel optimistic about the future, while politicians want to offer a clear and positive vision. But offering hope must not become a substitute for the practical action needed to address the challenges people are facing today or used as a way to defer difficult decisions with the promise that things will be better ‘one day’.
Delivering tangible improvements in the here and now is therefore crucial, because for many older people, hope is not measured by promises about tomorrow, but by what changes today.
Rhian Bowen-Davies is the older people’s commissioner for Wales.
PRIMAL SCREAM
Vanishing Point (Sony)
Three Primal Scream albums from their five-year pre- and post-millennium run are being remastered and reissued with accompanying B-sides, unreleased songs, sleevenotes and enhanced artwork. The Bunker Trilogy, as it’s been freshly dubbed, comprises Vanishing Point, XTRMNTR and Evil Heat: respectively from 1997, 2000 and 2002, and the rollout begins at the beginning.
A relentless tour schedule for Give Out But Don’t Give Up, released in 1994 and the predecessor to Vanishing Point, left the group narcotically burned out. “Some men didn’t come out the other side,” commented Andrew Weatherall, Primal Scream associate and sometime producer, in an interview at the time. Though the band retreated to their own Bunker studio in 1995, it was a minor miracle that Vanishing Point got over the finishing line at all – let alone how remarkable an album it is.
Vanishing Point is partly inspired by the 1971 cult film of the same name in which Kowalski, an ex-cop and Vietnam veteran, drives a Dodge Challenger from Utah to Denver with haste fuelled equally by Benzedrine and the cops pursuing him. There’s no happy ending in sight, but there are some great tunes on his car radio and a DJ who takes up Kowalski’s cause live on air. The outlaw-heading-towards-oblivion theme could function as a metaphor for Primal Scream’s collective state of mind at the time.
A major lineup change saw Stone Roses bassist Mani enter the fray after the Manchester group imploded. One of three Primal Scream band members no longer alive, along with Weatherall, his thunderous bass playing dominates the album’s lead single Kowalski, arguably one of the most uncommercial singles to trouble the UK top 10 since PiL’s Death Disco in 1979. He was joined in the Bunker by dub reggae don Augustus Pablo, who plays harmonica on Star, and the Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock, bassist on Medication.
Burning Wheel, a psychedelia-doused breakbeat beast of an album opener, stands to this day as one of the Scream’s best songs – as does the creeping, dread-infested Out Of The Void. The dub-heavy Stuka is marked by its “Got a demon in my head like a stinger” refrain; a cinematic groove prevails on If They Move… Kill ‘Em and Get Duffy, and Weatherall is back in the production chair for the hypnotic Trainspotting. The outlier, or breather, is a crazy version of Motörhead’s Motörhead, partially enlivened by a Darth Vader vocal effect.
The album ends with Long Life, in which Gillespie reaches out for the sun to block out the darkness, akin to The Doors’ The End in reverse. A dark, psychedelic dubbed out fever nightmare, there’s a case for Vanishing Point being Primal Scream’s finest album, and a lock for most fans’ top three.
words DAVID NOBAKHT
Advert amendment
An application has been lodged to amend the approved advertisement rate for signage at Penarth Railway Station.
The original advertisement, approved under reference 2026/00148/ADV, remains unchanged in size, materials, illumination, and fixings.
Unlike the standard five-year consent period, the revised application seeks permanent permission for the display.
Windows and doors alterations
Plans have been submitted for changes to windows and doors at a property on Robinswood Crescent, Penarth.
The proposal involves removing a modern glass-roofed conservatory, enlarging the rear patio doors, making minor window adjustments to the front and rear elevations, blocking up an existing side window to the integral garage, and replacing all windows with new uPVC casement designs.
Internal reconfiguration is also included, though all works will remain within the existing building footprint.
The application also outlines environmental enhancements, including pollinator-friendly planting such as lavender and the installation of a bird nesting box.
Flat extension
An application has been made to convert two ground-floor flats at a property on Plymouth Road, Penarth, into a single, larger unit.
The current rear ground-floor flat would be extended, with a new entrance created at the rear of the property.
The extension is planned to the side of the building, partially replacing the existing driveway.
The application notes that the impact on existing green infrastructure will be minimal and that landscaping will be protected throughout construction.
A bird box, approved by the RSPB, will be installed on a north or east-facing wall as part of the proposal.
Europe is burning. This summer, an unprecedented series of heatwaves has swept through the continent and across many parts of the globe. The consequences have been nothing short of catastrophic. In recent weeks deadly blazes have torn through France, Greece and Spain, killing firefighters, forcing people from their homes and robbing them of their livelihoods.
With Tuesday marking Britain’s 34th day of temperatures exceeding 30C (86F) this year, the UK has also found itself reckoning with ferocious heat. Wildfires have forced evacuations in Suffolk and the Cairngorms. In London – where parks have become burnt, brittle and brown – hundreds of grass fires have put our firefighters under pressure like never before. In July, the weather station at Kew Gardens recorded its first ever month without rain since it started operating in 1871. As rivers run dry and reservoirs run low, farmers are warning of food shortages amid the deepening drought. With thousands of deaths already estimated to be linked to the extreme heat we saw in May and June alone, it’s likely this figure will climb higher still.
The terrifying scenes we’ve seen so far this summer are the latest part of a pernicious long-term pattern. This is the third drought London has experienced in the past five years. Across the world, the past 11 years have been the 11 hottest ever recorded – and with a super strength El Niño forming in the Pacific which could pour yet more fuel on the fire, that trend is all but certain to continue. The climate emergency is here – and no one can say they didn’t see it coming.
When I was first elected mayor back in 2016, I warned that our rapidly warming world would be the defining challenge of our time. I was the first mayor of a global city to declare a climate emergency. Since then, a coalition of climate deniers and delayers has been relentless in condemning the green policies I’ve introduced. When I announced my intention to expand the Ulez – creating the largest clean air zone in the world – they unsuccessfully attempted to drag down the debate and whip up a crude culture war. On social media, people were blinded by a dark blizzard of disinformation designed to discredit climate action. Radicalised by what he’d seen online, one man even detonated a homemade bomb, destroying a Ulez camera in a shocking act of domestic terrorism.
Looking back now, it feels like the fierce fight over Ulez marked the beginning of something else: a new age of extreme climate scepticism. In the years since, the horrifying reality of the climate crisis has come into sharp relief – and yet somehow the clamouring voices of denial and delay have grown louder than ever. Having dismissed climate change as a “con job”, Donald Trump has sought to sabotage global climate action, withdrawing the United States from the Paris agreement for the second time, cutting support for clean energy, and boosting oil and gas production. In the UK, where cross-party consensus on the climate crisis has collapsed, his ideas have been echoed by opposition politicians and rightwing populists who veer wildly between denialism and fatalism. As some claim the climate crisis is a hoax, others insist it’s too late to act.
Both arguments are bogus. The climate crisis is getting worse, but in London we’ve shown that – with courage and creativity – we can prepare ourselves for its impacts. We’ve planted more than 640,000 trees across the capital, shading our streets from the summer sun. We’ve embraced rewilding while creating and improving more than 2,000 football pitches’ worth of green space, providing natural drainage to prevent flooding. And just last month, we set out a plan to clean up our rivers and create safe swimming sites where Londoners can cool down in the heat. We have more zero-emission buses than any city in Europe and about a third of our country’s electric charging points.
At the same time, since I’ve been mayor our city’s carbon emissions have fallen by about a quarter, while our economy has continued to grow. And last year the Ulez helped us to get levels of nitrogen oxide – one of the most toxic pollutants in our air – within legal limits almost two centuries before experts predicted we would. Between 2019 and 2024, estimated deaths associated with air pollution in London fell by an estimated 40%.
Through C40 Cities, a network of almost 100 global cities I co-chair, London is working side by side with cities around the world to take on the climate emergency – from rolling out new green buses to boosting the supply of renewable energy – but we cannot do this alone. National governments across the globe must step up and meet the gravity of this moment with renewed focus, funding and resolve. This includes our own government, which should reassure the public by reaffirming its commitment to net zero and making clear that it will continue to reduce our reliance on oil and gas and to invest in green projects.
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The most common refrain I hear from climate deniers is that green policies are some kind of luxury divorced from the worries of working people who are just trying to get by. But the idea that you can separate the climate crisis from the cost of living is patently absurd. What happens when droughts cause food prices to rise and when oil-price shocks squeeze household budgets? When hospitals are overwhelmed by vulnerable people struggling in the heat? When railways and roads buckle, workplaces close and schools are shuttered? The notion that climate action represents “woke nonsense” relies on the ridiculous premise that the climate crisis isn’t real – or that if it is, we won’t feel its impact on our lives. This year has proven just how wrong that is.
We are living in an era of extremes, and my fear is that – without urgent action – the worst is still to come. In this context, climate denial and delay isn’t just delusional – it’s deadly. Because it won’t be President Trump and the fossil fuel companies paying the price for failure – it will be the rest of us. If we are to protect our planet and the people who call it home, we must turn the tide on climate denial by preparing for a hotter future and embracing net zero like never before.
Broadcaster Mari Grug, former Wales international Joe Allen, and reggae artist Aleighcia Scott were among those inducted into Gorsedd Cymru by Archdruid of Wales Mererid Hopwood, during a special ceremony at the National Eisteddfod held in Llantwd near Cardigan.
Ms Grug, from Mynachlog-ddu, was recognised for her work as an S4C and Radio Cymru broadcaster and her openness in documenting her cancer journey, which inspired many across Wales.
She said: “I feel the excitement and I’m very emotional but I’m really looking forward.
“It’s a great honour and the whole family will be here.”
Ms Grug also said she was delighted to share the occasion with her mother, Ann Siriol Davies, who was also honoured at the ceremony.
Ms Davies is renowned as an adjudicator and author of children’s books.
She said: “Being inducted into the Gorsedd is one thing but doing so on the doorstep of my home is special.
“And doing that with Mari is even more special.
“We will celebrate after the ceremony.”
Joe Allen, who represented Wales 77 times and played in the historic World Cup team, said he was more nervous about the Eisteddfod ceremony than any World Cup game.
Mr Allen said: “In a football match I know what to expect and what to do but this ceremony is completely new to me.
“I didn’t expect to be invited and it was a bit of a shock but it’s a great honour and I’m very grateful.”
Welsh-Jamaican reggae singer Aleighcia Scott, from Cardiff, was recognised for her groundbreaking Welsh-language music, including the first Welsh reggae song to reach number one on iTunes.
She said: “When I started learning Welsh, I didn’t think I would join the Gorsedd at all.
“I look around me and see well-known people who have done so much for Wales and I am very happy to be here.”
Other inductees included broadcaster Heledd Cynwal, arts ambassador Eluned Haf, and community volunteers Wyn and Meirwen Evans.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park chief executive Tegryn Jones and musician Ryland Teifi were also honoured.
The National Eisteddfod continues throughout the week, celebrating Welsh culture and language across music, literature and the arts.
It’s one of America’s most popular morning staples, and for good reason.
Whether it’s whole wheat, frosted, packed with nutrients or laden with sugar, it’s hard to go wrong with cereal for breakfast.
The average American consumes about 10 to 14lbs – or 160 bowls – of cereal each year, adding up to 2.7 billion boxes sold.
But with seemingly endless boxes lining the grocery store shelves, it can be difficult to pick a favorite – or one that isn’t loaded with excess calories and sugar.
Not all options, however, are created equal.
While some brands tout nutrients like fiber and links to heart health, they also have long lists of sometimes unrecognizable ingredients.
And others that boast not having artificial additives have more sugar in just one cup than a Krispy Kreme donut.
Below, Nicolette Pace, registered dietitian and founder of NutriSource, gives her verdict on America’s most popular cereals and the healthiest choices in your local grocery store.
Kellogg’s Fruit Loops
Nutritional information (per 1.3 cup serving size): Calories: 150; Fat: 1.5g; Total sugars: 12g (12g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 34g
Ingredients: corn flour blend (whole grain yellow corn flour, degerminated yellow corn flour), sugar, wheat flour, whole grain oat flour, modified food starch, contains 2% or less of vegetable oil (hydrogenated coconut, soybean and/or cottonseed), oat fiber, maltodextrin, salt, soluble corn fiber, natural flavor, red 40, yellow 5, blue 1, yellow 6, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), reduced iron, niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, BHT added to packaging for freshness
What they say: Kellogg’s says its Froot Loops are made with ‘natural flavors and grains as its first ingredient.’ The brand also claims the cereal is ‘low fat’ and ‘healthy,’ with nine vitamins and minerals per serving.
Pace’s verdict: 10/100
‘This is the worst offender for many reasons. It has all the things that have propelled the [Make America Healthy Again] movement. It is like a cocktail of chemicals given to children. It has Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 and Yellow 6. They have natural colors available, maybe in Europe, so I do not know why they are still using these here.
‘The BHT is on the hit list, and then there is the hydrogenated vegetable oil. Notice how it says coconut, soybean and/or cottonseed oil. That means it is left to the manufacturer’s discretion, based on the commodities market, to use whichever oil is cheapest.
‘So you are getting the cheapest oil, and it is hydrogenated. It also has modified food starch, which has no nutritional value. It is basically a filler that fluffs up the cereal and makes it look like you are getting more for your money. It is not necessarily dangerous, but it does nothing for you.
‘It has the vitamins stuck in there, and the colors make it palatable to little children, but overall it is at the bottom of the barrel.’
Kellogg’s Special K
Nutritional information (per 1.25 cup serving size): Calories: 150; Fat: 0.5g; Total sugars: 5g (4g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 29g
Ingredients: rice, wheat gluten, sugar, defatted wheat germ, contains 2 percent or less of salt, malt flavor, reduced iron, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), niacinamide, vitamin E acetate, beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin D3, vitamin B12, BHT added to packaging for freshness
What they say: The brand states that Special K ‘has essential nutrients you need,’ such as fiber, antioxidants from strawberries and 11 vitamins and minerals. The cereal also ‘features a multigrain blend of wheat and rice flakes paired with real freeze-fried strawberries, providing a balance of taste, texture, and nutrition.’
Pace’s verdict: 60/100
‘Special K has BHT, which brings the score down. The wheat gluten is being used as a texturizer so they can make the cereal smooth, puff it up and dry it out again. The malt contributes to the added sugar.
‘Malt is not necessarily harmful, but it does not provide much nutritional benefit in this form. It is mainly there to make the cereal more palatable. There are fillers and a lot of processing involved, so this is not an especially nutritious cereal overall.
‘The wheat gluten and sugars are also rapidly absorbed. Believe it or not, the coating on Frosted Flakes can delay absorption, while Special K does not have that same effect.’
General Mills Original Cheerios
Nutritional information (per 1.5 cup serving size): Calories: 140; Fat: 2.5g; Total sugars: 2g (1g added sugar); Carbohydrates: 29g
Ingredients: Whole Grain Oats, Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness. Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Iron and Zinc (mineral nutrients), Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), A B Vitamin (niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), Vitamin A (palmitate), Vitamin B1 (thiamin mononitrate), A B Vitamin (folic acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.
What they say: General Mills says its classic Cheerios, which are made with 100 percent whole grain oats and has 3g fiber, ‘can help lower cholesterol as part of a heart-healthy diet.’ The brand also states the cereal is ‘a good source of calcium and fiber, and 11 vitamins and minerals, with no artificial flavors or colors.’
Pace’s verdict: 65/100
‘The total sugars would include the natural sugar content that comes from how the starch is processed. It does have added sugar, and sugar is the third ingredient on the list, which is fairly high. But it is only two grams.
‘Primarily, this is based on starch. The corn starch is a filler, and then the rest of the ingredients are mostly vitamins and minerals. It is neutral and benign. It is not going to kill you.
‘I believe it has around two or three grams of fiber, and usually I like to see 150 calories or less per serving with some fiber. The problem is that nobody necessarily stops at one and a half cups.
‘The glycemic mechanics are still high because of how they puff it up. The starch can be rapidly absorbed. They are using mixed vitamin E, the tocopherols, which is a good move because oats are naturally prone to oxidation.’
Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes
Nutritional information (per 1 cup serving size): Calories: 130; Fat: 0g; Total sugars: 12g (12g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 33g
Ingredients: milled corn, sugar, malt flavor, contains 2 percent or less of salt, iron (ferric phosphate), niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12
What they say: Kellogg’s says Frosted Flakes contain just four main ingredients – corn, sugar, malt flavor and salt – along with vitamins and minerals like iron, folic acid and B vitamins. The brand also claims the cereal has no artificial colors or flavors.
Pace’s verdict: 65/100
‘This is a fairly simple cereal, but it has 12 grams of added sugar and does not offer much fiber. Believe it or not, Frosted Flakes has a lower glycemic index and glycemic load than people might expect. The sugar coating can actually delay the blood sugar response because plain puffed or flaked starch may be absorbed more rapidly.
‘That does not mean it needs such a thick coating. They could reduce the sugar coating without compromising the product. The malt flavor is not the main problem. I would put it on roughly the same level as Cheerios.’
Post Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted Cereal
Nutritional information (per 1 cup serving size): Calories: 160; Fat: 2g; Total sugars: 9g (8g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 34g
Ingredients: corn, whole grain wheat, sugar, whole grain rolled oats, rice, canola and/or soybean oil, wheat flour, malted barley flour, corn syrup, salt, molasses, honey, caramel color, barley malt extract, natural and artificial flavor, annatto extract (color), BHT added to preserve freshness
What they say: Honey Bunches of Oats says its Honey Roasted Cereal is ‘a great-tasting breakfast that has wholesome credentials,’ which include 14g whole grains, 10 vitamins and minerals and being ‘low in fat.’
Pace’s verdict: 65/100
‘This is comparable to several of the middle-ranking cereals. It has corn, whole grain wheat, sugar, rolled oats, rice, canola or soybean oil, corn syrup, honey, caramel color, artificial flavor and BHT.
‘The canola or soybean oil can be chosen based on the commodities market, meaning the manufacturer can use whichever is cheaper. It does contain corn syrup, although the label does not say high-fructose corn syrup.
‘The malted barley flour, molasses and honey also add sweetness. It has nine grams of total sugar and eight grams of added sugar. Special K has less sugar, but this one has some whole grains and oats. The oils, artificial flavor and BHT keep it from scoring higher.’
Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats Bite Size Cereal
Nutritional information (per 25 biscuit/0.5 cup serving size): Calories: 210; Fat: 1.5g; Total sugars: 12g sugar (12g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 51g
Ingredients: whole grain wheat, sugar, contains 2 percent or less of brown rice syrup, gelatin, reduced iron, folic acid, BHT added to packaging for freshness
What they say: Kellogg’s refers to its Frosted Mini Wheats as ‘made to help fill you up with 10 layers of whole shredded what in every delicious bite.’ ‘Perfectly sweet with wholesome wheat, each serving delivers 48g of whole grain, and is an excellent source of fiber to help support digestive wellness,’ the brand states.
Pace’s verdict: 65/100
‘This would ordinarily be one of the stronger cereals because it is dense, it contains whole grain wheat, it has fiber and it provides more satiety.
‘The 51 grams of carbohydrates should not automatically scare people because much of that comes from the whole grain and fiber. It provides bulk and is not absorbed in the same way as a low-fiber puffed cereal.
‘They do not need to put such a thick layer of sugar on it, and they could reduce the sugar without ruining the product.
‘The gelatin is not a major problem. Without the BHT, this would be a much stronger cereal. The reason the score is only 65 is the BHT. It is too bad they cannot figure out a more natural preservative.’
Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal
Nutritional information (per 1.5 cup serving size): Calories: 150; Fat: 0g; Total sugars: 4g (4g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 36g
Ingredients: rice, sugar, contains 2 percent or less of salt, malt flavor, iron (ferric phosphate), niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12
What they say: ‘The original crisped rice cereal has become one of life’s simple pleasures,’ Kellogg’s states. The brand touts the cereal’s ‘four simple ingredients,’ which include rice, sugar, salt and malt flavor. It also has no artificial colors or flavorings.
Pace’s verdict: 70/100
‘Believe it or not, this is one of the more pure and benign cereals. It has stayed relatively close to the same simple formula over the years. It is mostly puffed rice and air, so it does not provide much fiber or satiety.
‘But it also does not have a long list of fillers, starches, artificial colors or oils. It has some sugar, but it is only four grams, so that is not a major issue.
‘The calories are reasonable. It is not especially nutritious, but it is less harmful and simpler than people might expect. Rice Krispies is going to surprise people.’
Kellogg’s Raisin Bran
Nutritional information (per 1 cup serving size): Calories: 190; Fat: 1g; Total sugars: 18g (9g added sugar); Carbohydrates: 47g
Ingredients: whole grain wheat, raisins, wheat bran, sugar, brown sugar syrup, contains 2 percent or less of malt flavor, salt, iron
What they say: Kellogg’s says its Raisin Bran cereal has ‘crispy whole grain bran flakes and plump, juicy raisins in every spoonful.’ The brand also claims it is a ‘good source of fiber’ and ‘a heart-healthy choice.’
Pace’s verdict: 75/100
‘This is better than you think. The fiber is high, somewhere around eight grams per serving, and that slows absorption. You should not be afraid of the total carbohydrate number because you have to look at how much is absorbable, how much comes from fiber and how the food affects metabolism.
‘It gives you the benefits of the wheat bran and the raisins, and the malt flavoring and raisins provide natural sweetness. It is also more satisfying and has more weight than a puffed cereal like Cheerios.
‘The problem is that they add more sugar than they need. They could easily reduce some of the sugar and improve the glycemic response in your body without ruining the cereal.’
Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
Nutritional information (per 1.5 cup serving size): Calories: 150; Fat: 0g; Total sugars: 4g (4g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 36g
Ingredients: milled corn, sugar, malt flavor, contains 2 percent or less of salt, iron (ferric phosphate), niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12
What they say: Kellogg’s says Corn Flakes is the ‘original and best’ cereal. Much like other brands, it boasts four main ingredients, corn, sugar, malt and salt, along with B vitamins and folic acid. It also says the cereal is made with USA corn and has no artificial colors or flavors.
Pace’s verdict: 75/100
‘Corn Flakes is denser than Rice Krispies and is still fairly close to the original cereal formula. It is mainly milled corn, sugar, malt flavor, salt and added vitamins and minerals.
‘It is processed and does not provide much fiber, but it does not contain artificial colors, hydrogenated oils or a long list of questionable additives. There is nothing especially dangerous in the formulation.
‘Based on its relative purity and simplicity, it scores well.’
Kashi GO Protein & Fiber Cereal Original
Nutritional information (per 1.25 cup serving size): Calories: 200; Fat: 2g; Total sugars: 9g (8g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 45g
Ingredients: puffed whole grains blend (hard red wheat, triticale grain, brown rice, rye), soy protein concentrate, degerminated yellow corn flour, cane sugar, degerminated yellow corn meal, oat fiber, wheat bran, soy flour, corn bran, honey, seven whole grains flour (oats, hard red wheat, rye, brown rice, triticale grain, barley, buckwheat), salt, natural flavors, annatto extract for color
What they say: Kashi boasts the cereal’s 12g protein and 12g fiber. It also says the cereal is ‘crafted with delicious, plant-powered ingredients to provide a wholesome start to the day or nourishing anytime snack.’ These ingredients include soy protein grahams.
Pace’s verdict: 85/100
‘This has the fiber, protein and whole grain mixture, so it gives you more satiety and more nutritional value than most of the other cereals. It contains hard red wheat, triticale, brown rice, rye, oat fiber, wheat bran, soy protein and several other grains. That boosts the value.
‘It does have added sugar, and using cane sugar and honey does not necessarily make the sugar better. Manufacturers can use those ingredients because they sound healthier and may also be economical.
‘It is 200 calories for one and a quarter cups, so the weight and density matter. It is also expensive, but it is a good choice.’
Post Grape-Nuts Cereal
Nutritional information (per 0.5 cup serving size): Calories: 200; Fat: 1g; Total sugars: 5g (0g added sugars); Carbohydrates: 47g
Ingredients: whole grain wheat flour, malted barley flour, salt, dried yeast, reduced iron, niacinamide (vitamin B3), zinc oxide (source of zinc), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin B1), folic acid
What they say: ‘From 0g added sugars per serving to 7g of fiber and 52g of whole grain per serving to support heart health, Grape-Nuts cereal brings nutrition for wherever your day takes you,’ Post states about Grape-Nuts Cereal.
Pace’s verdict: 95/100
‘This is number one and at the top of the list. It is calorie dense, but the serving is only half a cup, so portion size matters.
‘It is a very pure cereal made primarily from whole grain wheat flour and malted barley flour, with no added sugar, artificial colors or BHT. It also gives you fiber and density rather than mostly air.
‘If you mix it into a complete meal with milk or yogurt and high-fiber fruit, you have a complete and very nutritious breakfast. I also suggest mixing cereals because you can combine the nutritional strengths of one cereal with the palatability of another.’
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