Muesli and mixed breakfast cereals' BNI

Perezgonzalez assessed the nutritional balance of muesli and mixed cereals in 2012, as part of a research on breakfast cereals in New Zealand.

Muesli had, on average, a nutritional balance of BNI 23.82s, being particularly biased towards excess of sugar. It was adequate in saturated fat, fiber and sodium, high in carbohydrate, and low in protein and fat.

Illustration 1: Nutrition information (muesli)

BNI	23.82s	0.00

Food, 100g	2012	Ideal
Protein	11.1	17.8
Carbohydrate	63.5	49.0
Sugar	19.5	< 8.9
Fat	6.4	9.9
Saturated fat	1.5	< 1.5
Fiber	9.8	5.3
Sodium	0.126	< 0.356
Kcal	356.0	356.0
kJul	1489.5	1489.5

Illustration 2: Nutritional profile (muesli)

70%		*
65%		*
60%		*
55%		*
50%		*
45%		*
40%		*
35%		*		*
30%		*		*
25%		*		*
20%		*		*
15%		*	*	*
10%	*	*	*	*
5%	*	*	*	*
mid	p	c	f	fb
max		s	sf		na
5%		*	*		*
10%		*
15%		*
20%		*

ideal % = grey cells; actual % = asterisk (*)

International standards

Muesli and mixed breakfast cereals appeared as slightly unbalanced according to international Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs).

Illustration 3: Nutritional balance across international RDIs

Muesli / mixed cereals	(diet)	23.82	23.82	7.64	23.82	21.82

Product100g	Company	BNI	WHO	US/CAN	AUS/NZ	UK
Be Natural multi grain porridge	Be Natural	6.07	3.55	2.82	5.80	8.04
Be Natural cashew, almond, hazelnut & coconut	Be Natural	8.25	6.46	0.00	8.25	8.25
Homebrand traditional muesli	Woolworths	9.77	6.05	4.63	9.49	10.23
Be Natural vanilla almond porridge	Be Natural	12.64	12.64	0.00	12.64	10.64
Simply Reduced Fat Muesli cranberry & vanilla	Hubbards	18.04	18.29	1.16	17.93	16.85
Vogel's rolled oats plus	Vogel's	18.24	8.86	18.09	17.95	10.33
Simply toasted muesli original	Hubbards	19.69	19.69	2.27	19.69	15.69
Pams natural muesli	Pams	20.25	20.25	1.44	20.25	18.25
Big Breakfast toasted muesli	Hubbards	20.26	20.26	0.00	20.26	18.26
Simply toasted muesli 5 golden grains	Hubbards	20.35	20.42	0.33	20.32	18.58
Woolworths Select muesli morning crunch	Woolworths	20.83	20.83	4.03	14.92	10.92
Pams toasted muesli	Pams	24.16	24.16	1.28	24.16	22.16
Be Natural pink lady, flame raisins & fruit	Be Natural	24.76	24.76	11.37	24.76	22.76
Pams reduced fat toasted muesli	Pams	29.53	29.53	4.66	29.53	27.53
Uncle Tobys Plus omega 3	Nestle	29.81	29.81	11.84	29.81	27.81
Vogel's manuka, honey & apricot porridge	Vogel's	33.54	33.54	24.26	33.54	31.54
Simply toasted muesli apricot	Hubbards	34.40	35.29	4.81	34.00	34.75
Sustain original	Kellogg's	36.00	25.64	26.00	36.00	26.00
Oat Singles morning berry	Harraways&Sons	36.74	36.74	19.87	36.74	34.74
Harraways fruit harvest	Harraways&Sons	37.24	40.91	29.31	35.57	47.49
Oat Singles apple, sultana & cinnamon	Harraways&Sons	39.68	39.68	16.21	39.68	37.68
Be Natural 5 whole grains	Be Natural	43.11	25.28	35.28	43.11	33.11
Pams Lite & Fruity apricot fruit	Pams	44.65	44.65	31.74	44.65	42.65
Freedom Foods rice flakes with psyllium	Freedom Foods	44.94	24.94	34.94	44.94	34.94
Just Right original	Kellogg's	54.64	54.64	31.39	54.64	52.64
Special K	Kellogg's	56.50	44.83	53.40	53.76	37.45
Budget tropical muesli	Safeway Traders	57.29	57.29	38.19	57.29	55.29
Alison Holst decadent delight	Prolife Foods	57.82	54.48	24.78	49.33	41.77
Heart 1st	Goodness Superfoods	67.46	84.39	41.57	63.23	94.30
Nutri-Grain	Kellogg's	70.08	85.55	54.60	66.98	58.16
Alison Holst rise & shine	Prolife Foods	72.63	72.63	42.08	72.08	70.08
Protein 1st	Goodness Superfoods	90.43	123.12	63.53	84.37	132.90
Mini Wheats mixed berry flavour	Kellogg's	37.31	23.84	33.50	37.19	28.22
Mini Wheats blackcurrant flavor	Kellogg's	38.79	19.79	29.79	38.79	28.79
Bran & berries	Hubbards	39.51	40.06	31.91	39.26	39.36
Bran & apricot	Hubbards	40.89	38.29	33.41	40.08	37.97
Kellogg's sultana bran	Kellogg's	55.58	58.89	45.83	54.08	64.62
Bran & sultana	Hubbards	60.33	63.80	40.69	58.76	69.88
(Source: Perezgonzalez, 2012²)

Author

Jose D PEREZGONZALEZ (2012). Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. (JDPerezgonzalez).

Want to know more?

BNI™ database: The database offers individual nutrition analyses for foods, including the food referred to in above article.
BNI™ journal (2012, issue 3) - Breakfast cereals: This issue of the Balanced Nutrition Index™ journal collates all BNI™ nutrition information for the original sample in a single book.
Wiki of Science - Nutritional balance of foods: This Wiki of Science page collates information about several foods on a single page and provides useful links to the appropiate files.