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FDA argues health claims made on cereal box FDA takes issue with Cheerios health claims


The Associated Press


WASHINGTON Federal regulators have scolded the maker of Cheerios, saying the company made inappropriate claims about the popular cereal's ability to lower cholesterol and treat heart disease.
The Food and Drug Administration said in a warning letter to General Mills that language on the Cheerios box suggests the cereal is designed to prevent or treat heart disease by lowering cholesterol. Regulators say that only FDA-approved drugs are allowed to make such claims.
Among other claims, the labeling states: “You can lower your cholesterol 4 percent in six weeks.”
The FDA allows companies that market whole grain foods like Cheerios to highlight their ability to reduce the risk of heart disease. While the box carries that claim in the lower left hand corner, the language about cholesterol is much larger and appears separately – something the FDA does not allow.
Regulators also object to the company's claim that Cheerios can lower cholesterol by 4 percent, since companies are not allowed to quantify the benefit of their foods.
Additionally, companies that make claims about their whole grain foods are supposed to mention that fruits and vegetables are also part of a fiber-rich diet. General Mills' labeling does not include that information.
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