Posted on 06/14/2007 10:20:23 AM PDT by Eric Blair 2084
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kellogg Co., the world's largest cereal maker, has agreed to raise the nutritional value of cereals and snacks it markets to children.
The Battle Creek, Mich., company avoided a lawsuit threatened by parents and nutrition advocacy groups worried about increasing child obesity. Kellogg intends to formally announce its decision Thursday.
The company said it won't promote foods in TV, radio, print or Web site ads that reach audiences at least half of whom are under age 12 unless a single serving of the product meets these standards:
-No more than 200 calories.
-No trans fat and no more than 2 grams of saturated fat.
-No more than 230 milligrams of sodium, except for Eggo frozen waffles.
-No more than 12 grams of sugar, not counting sugar from fruit, dairy and vegetables.
Kellogg said it would reformulate products to meet these criteria or stop marketing them to children under 12 by the end of 2008.
"By committing to these nutrition standards and marketing reforms, Kellogg has vaulted over the rest of the food industry," said Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "This commitment means that parents will find it a little easier to steer their children toward healthy food choices - especially if other food manufacturers and broadcasters follow Kellogg's lead."
Jacobson's nutrition advocacy group, along with two Massachusetts parents and the Boston-based Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood, had served notice in January 2006 of intent to sue Kellogg and the Nickelodeon cable TV network under a Massachusetts law to stop them from marketing junk food to kids.
Center spokesman Jeff Cronin said Kellogg contacted the plaintiffs shortly thereafter and began negotiating the new standards, so the lawsuit was not filed and will not be filed.
(Excerpt) Read more at breakingnews.nypost.com ...
bookmark
I for one don't enjoy it for one single minute.......but I know exactly what you are talking about. But if we don't keep up the fight, they'll win and then what are we going to do?
Planting is coming along. Rain interfered a lot this week, but we do need it.
Kellogg is caving into the Food Police. Cold cereal is already among the healthiest of foods. It’s great as healthy snacks for kids (like me!)
Am I missing something here?
If parents don’t buy the junk food cereal the manufacturers wouldn’t make them. Most parents actually have brains,although you’d never know it by what is going on now.
These preassure groups make me sick.
“These preassure groups make me sick.”
Amen. I personally think they’re evil.
The cereal companies have had healthy,good tasting products all along but prefer to market and sell the high sugar ones just as the car industry prefer to sell high-mark-up models.
I wish people would make more informed choices;the modern socialist liberal decided he will make that choice for people.
How ya doin’,383rr? It’s been a while.
My kids were allowed sugared cereals once a year——during vacation week.
They are now raising their own kids the same way——no junk food but an occasional treat.
No obesity in our family.
Exactly, Mears. They are trying to make us feel like little babies who can't think for ourselves!!!!
Doing good, glad to see you around, my dear!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.