Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar

Common questions

Is Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar healthy?

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar scores 16/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar scores 16/100.

Does Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar contain seed oils?

No — Scout's ingredient analysis marks Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar as seed-oil free.

Has Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar been lab-tested?

Yes. Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar carries an independent laboratory panel from EWG covering 2 contaminants (including Glyphosate, Chlormequat) — the full results are on this page.

How processed is Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar?

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar is NOVA Group 3: Processed Foods.

How does Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar compare to other oats?

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar ranks #28 of 28 oats in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is One Degree Organic Foods Organic Sprouted Rolled Oats at 99/100.

Which ingredients drive Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Whole Grain Oats counts in its favor; Sugar, Natural Flavor are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar

Quaker
Seed oil free Lab tested
16 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 1
Harmful ingredients 2
Owned by PepsiCo
Category Oats
Summary

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar scores 16/100. EWG's February 2024 chlormequat study detected the pesticide at ~170 ppb. Chlormequat is a plant growth regulator linked to reduced fertility and developmental toxicity in animal studies; it is not approved for use on food crops grown in the U.S., so its presence indicates pre-harvest spraying on imported oats. The EWG 2023 panel also found 279.8 ppb glyphosate in this same product — one of the highest readings in either study. Combine two pesticide contaminants with added sugar and instant processing and you get a low-confidence breakfast.

Contaminants 2

Source: EWG

Glyphosate
279.8 ppb
High

Detected at a high level — at or above health-based benchmarks such as EWG's 160 ppb children's-health benchmark. Regular exposure at this level is a genuine health concern. Glyphosate is classified as a probable human carcinogen by IARC, and glyphosate-residue-free supply chains exist — so its presence reflects ingredient sourcing.

EWG 2023 testing detected glyphosate at up to 279.8 ppb — one of the highest levels found across all products tested.

Chlormequat
~170 ppb
High

Detected at a high level — at or above health-based exposure limits. Regular exposure at this level is a genuine health concern. Chlormequat is a plant growth regulator (PGR) used to shorten cereal stalks pre-harvest. Animal studies link chlormequat exposure to reduced fertility, delayed puberty, and developmental toxicity (Environmental Health Perspectives 2018; Reproductive Toxicology 2020). Chlormequat is not approved for use on food crops grown in the U.S., so its presence in this product indicates pre-harvest spraying on imported (likely Canadian or European) oats. There is no FDA tolerance for chlormequat in oat-based foods sold in the U.S.

EWG's February 2024 study detected chlormequat chloride at ~170 ppb in this product. EWG detected chlormequat in 80% of urine samples from a U.S. population in 2023.

Key ingredients 4

Sugar
Bad

Added sugar contributes to the sweetness but provides empty calories. Listed as the second ingredient.

See more about Sugar →
Natural Flavor
Bad

Umbrella term that can hide dozens of undisclosed synthetic flavor constituents.

See more about Natural Flavor →
Salt
Neutral

Added for flavor. Modest amount per serving.

See more about Salt →
Whole Grain Oats
Very Good

Whole grain oats are rich in beta-glucan fiber that supports heart health and blood sugar regulation.

See more about Whole Grain Oats →

Processing

Group 3 · Processed

Processed Foods

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