The Short Answer
Yes, Purely Elizabeth is clean. Compared to 90% of the granola aisle, it is a superior choice.
Most commercial granolas are "dessert in disguise," loaded with inflammatory canola oil, soy lecithin, and high-fructose corn syrup. Purely Elizabeth flips the script by using organic coconut oil and organic coconut sugar. Their "Ancient Grain" line is certified USDA Organic, which is your best defense against the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup).
However, itâs not perfect. Independent testing has detected heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in some batchesâa common issue with root vegetables and seeds sourced from varying soils. It's clean enough for your pantry, but we recommend rotating it with other breakfasts rather than eating it every single day.
Why This Matters
Granola is one of the biggest "health food" traps in the grocery store. Brands like Bear Naked and Quaker market themselves as wholesome while packing their products with the same ingredients found in ultra-processed cookies.
The biggest offenders in granola are:
1. Seed Oils: Most brands use canola or soybean oil, which are high in inflammatory Omega-6 fats. Purely Elizabeth uses coconut oil, a stable saturated fat. Cooking Oils
2. Glyphosate: Non-organic oats are often sprayed with glyphosate as a drying agent. Purely Elizabeth uses organic oats, which prohibits this practice. Glyphosate In Oatmeal
3. Refined Sugar: Many brands use cane sugar or corn syrup. Purely Elizabeth uses coconut sugar, which retains some minerals and has a slightly lower glycemic impact.
What's Actually In Purely Elizabeth
The ingredient list for their flagship Original Ancient Grain Granola is refreshing because you can actually recognize everything.
- Organic Certified Gluten-Free Oats â Critical for avoiding glyphosate residues found in conventional oats. Is Oatmeal Gluten Free
- Organic Coconut Sugar â A lower-glycemic sweetener that is less processed than white cane sugar.
- Organic Raw Virgin Coconut Oil â A heat-stable fat that doesn't oxidize easily like sunflower or canola oil.
- Superseeds (Chia, Hemp, Amaranth) â Added for texture and a small boost in Omega-3s and protein.
- Organic Cinnamon & Sea Salt â Real flavorings, not synthetic chemical mimics.
Note on "Natural Flavors":
While the Original Ancient Grain flavor is free of "Natural Flavors," some of their Grain-Free and Keto varieties do list "Natural Flavors" or "Natural Vanilla Flavor." If you are a strict purist, check the label of the specific flavor you are buying.
Heavy Metals: The Caution Flag
We value transparency, so we have to address the Lead Safe Mama reports. Independent lab testing in late 2024 identified detectable levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic in the Original Ancient Grain and Chocolate Sea Salt varieties.
Does this mean you should panic? No.
Heavy metals are naturally occurring in the earth's crust. Crops like sweet potatoes, cacao, and certain seeds absorb them from the soil. A "detectable" level isn't automatically an "unsafe" level, but it is a reminder that even organic food comes from the ground.
Our advice: Don't let this be your only breakfast source. Variety is the best way to minimize exposure to any single environmental toxin.
The Best Options
If you're buying Purely Elizabeth, here is how their product lines stack up:
| Product Line | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Original Ancient Grain | â Best | USDA Organic, no natural flavors, simple ingredient list. |
| Grain-Free (Vanilla/Banana) | â ïž Good | Great for Keto, but contains "Natural Flavors" and non-organic almonds. |
| Probiotic Granola | â ïž Okay | Contains added probiotic strains which may not survive digestion effectively. |
| Oatmeal Cups | â Good | Convenient, but verify sugar content (some are higher). |
The Bottom Line
1. Buy the "Ancient Grain" line. It offers the cleanest profile with organic certifications and no "natural flavors."
2. Check the sugar. While cleaner, it still has ~7g of sugar per serving. It's a garnish for yogurt, not a bowl of cereal.
3. Rotate your breakfast. Due to heavy metal concerns inherent in root/seed crops, don't eat the same brand every single day.
4. Avoid the conventional alternatives. Purely Elizabeth is leagues ahead of Quaker, Nature Valley, or Bear Naked.
FAQ
Is Purely Elizabeth glyphosate-free?
They use certified organic oats, which prohibits the use of glyphosate. However, they do not currently hold a specific "Glyphosate Residue Free" certification from The Detox Project, unlike some niche brands like Heavenly Organics. Glyphosate In Oatmeal
Is Purely Elizabeth keto-friendly?
Their Grain-Free line is keto-certified and paleo-friendly, using nuts and seeds instead of oats. However, their standard "Ancient Grain" granola is not keto, as it is oat-based and contains coconut sugar.
Does Purely Elizabeth use seed oils?
No. This is their biggest advantage. They use organic coconut oil or MCT oil, avoiding the inflammatory canola, soybean, and sunflower oils found in almost all other big-box granola brands.