General Mills (GIS) – Get a free report It continues to make strides in increasing the number of “healthy” grains in its portfolio. This follows an announcement by the Food and Drug Administration last year about changes to what it believes should be considered a healthy breakfast.
It’s no surprise that some popular grains have been hit with this FDA notice. But it was a little surprising to see that some were not as healthy as they presented themselves. The cereal products listed with sugar and corn syrup are Post Consumer Brands. (POST) – Get a free report Golden Crisps with 18 grams of sugar per serving.
Some of the cereals that were a little shocking to see on the list were Kellogg’s. (K) – Get a free report Cereal Special K has 4 grams of added sugar and 270 milligrams of sodium, Frosted Mini Wheats has 12 grams of added sugar and Raisin Bran has 9 grams of added sugar.
General Mills cereals on the list: Honey Nut Cheerios and Corn Flakes. The FDA notice states that any cereal with more than 2.5 grams of added sugar and 230 milligrams of sodium is unhealthy. Corn kernels have 4 grams of added sugar and 300 milligrams of sodium.
General Mills took action
The cereal company is busy looking for ways to increase the health benefits of cereal products. General Mills brands that are fortified with vitamin D include Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Trix and Cookie Crisp.
These grains double the amount of vitamin D they already contain and will be hitting grocery shelves this summer. General Mills is the first cereal company to make this dietary change on a large scale as part of the ‘Virtue We Grow on Campaign’.
“General Mills Big G Cereal has been at the forefront of providing good nutrition,” said Ricardo Fernandez, president of US Breakfast Foods. “Over 20 years ago, we were proud to be the first major company to make whole grains the first ingredient in our Big G Cereals recipes, a commitment that continues to this day.”
“And with the added vitamin D fortification of these cereals, we’re proud to remind parents of the goodness they grew up with with the Big G and how we continue to provide healthy options for families today.”
“Cereal is one of the few foods that can be eaten throughout life and is a household staple that can support good nutrition for a large segment of the population,” said Amy Cohn, registered dietitian and senior nutrition manager at General Mills.
“Doubling the vitamin D content of our Big G cereal is another step in our continued commitment to providing affordable, accessible nutrition because we know breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated or break the bank – and can be as simple as your favorite bowl of cereal.”
Change is in the air or at least in the grain passage.
General Mills isn’t just putting more vitamins into their cereal, it’s also changing the look. The company is also making smaller versions of some popular cereal products.
General Mills brands Trix and Recess Puffs got the least makeover. The grains will have the same taste, texture and nutrients, you know, much less.
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