Report cards › Food › General Mills, Inc.
Count Chocula
CSWH grade A (85)
Method v1.0 (how we grade), based on the records below; exact score 85.
| Indicator | Grade | What we found |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls (40%) | A (100) | No recalls found Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 29, 2026. For current recalls see FDA and USDA. |
| Ingredients (40%) | C (63) | Tier A: 0 of 9 products · A (100) (25%) Tier B: 8 of 9 products (FD&C Blue No. 1, Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5) · F (0) (15%) · products |
| FDA warning letters (20%) | A (100) | None found to the owner Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 29, 2026. |
Shown, not graded: recall reasons (none) · IARC notes (0 products) · FDA dye pledge: In progress.
Recalls, Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 29, 2026
No FDA recall matched to this brand.
1 recall event by General Mills, Inc. name no brand, so it is on the owner's page, not counted here.
Store-brand and co-packer recalls count on a brand only when a UPC in the recall matches one of its products.
Ingredients on our watch list
FD&C Blue No. 1 Tier B in 8 of 9 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(7): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) Tier B in 4 of 9 products
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(5): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
FD&C Red No. 40 Tier B in 3 of 9 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(34): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
FD&C Yellow No. 5 Tier B in 3 of 9 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(43): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
Products (8)
- CHOCOLATEY CEREAL BAR WITH MARSHMALLOWS TREATS, CHOCOLATEY CEREAL BAR WITH MARSHMALLOWS · UPC 16000154810 · FoodData Central record of Mar 19, 2021
B Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) ("bht"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1") · Report an error - CHOCOLATEY CEREAL BAR WITH SPOOKY-FUN MARSHMALLOWS · UPC 16000432246 · FoodData Central record of Mar 19, 2021
B Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) ("bht"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1") · Report an error - CHOCOLATEY CEREAL WITH MARSHMALLOWS MINI TREATS BARS, CHOCOLATEY WITH MARSHMALLOWS · UPC 16000167612 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) ("bht"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1") · Report an error - CHOCOLATEY CEREAL WITH MARSHMALLOWS, CHOCOLATEY · UPC 16000151536 · FoodData Central record of Mar 19, 2021
B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5") · Report an error - Count Chocula Halloween Breakfast Cereal · UPC 16000178229 · FoodData Central record of Jul 24, 2025
B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5") · Report an error - Count Chocula Halloween Breakfast Cereal · UPC 16000275836 · FoodData Central record of Jul 24, 2025
B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5") · Report an error - Count Chocula Mini Treat Bar · UPC 16000291065 · FoodData Central record of Mar 12, 2026
B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1") · Report an error - Count Chocula Mini Treat Bars 53 Count · UPC 16000183346 · FoodData Central record of Mar 12, 2026
B Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) ("bht"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1") · Report an error
Labels change: each row shows the date of its FoodData Central record. A brand that has changed a recipe can report it with "Report an error".
FDA warning letters to General Mills, Inc., Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 29, 2026
None found from FDA food offices.
FDA notes that later events may have changed the regulatory status of what a letter discusses.
FDA dye pledge: In progress
General Mills, Inc.: Betty Crocker®, Bisquick®, Chex® Cereal, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Häagen-Dazs™, Pillsbury®, Progresso®, Trix®
- Eliminate certified color additives from all U.S. cereals and all K-12 school foods by summer 2026.
- Eliminate certified color additives from full U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027.
Source: FDA's tracker of food industry dye pledges
Shown, not graded: a completed pledge already shows up as fewer dyes in the ingredients.