Kellogg, the world’s leading cereal maker, will be reformulating “healthier” cereals or no longer marketing them to kids. The new initiative was released after the company was nearly sued by advocacy groups and parents who said Kellogg was unfairly advertising their junk cereals to kids. As part of the settlement, Kellogg has created the “Kellogg Global Nutrient Criteria,” which is to apply to nearly all of its food products. The criteria require that each serving of a Kellogg’s food:
Meanwhile, Kellogg plans to put labels on the front of cereal boxes that give quick nutrition information. The company intends to stop marketing their products in schools with children under the age of 12, and says it will stop using characters “outside the brand” in products that don’t meet their nutrient criteria.Food companies are clearly trying to placate health-conscious consumers by creating supposedly healthier products, but in the case of sugary cereals, salty snacks and other processed foods like the ones Kellogg is most known for, they are not even close.Their new “nutrient criteria” places no attention on a leading ingredient in many kids’ cereals -- high-fructose corn syrup -- nor does it mention the artificial colors, flavors and preservatives that they include.That food companies are perking up to consumers’ healthier demands and limiting their advertising to kids is a great thing, but there are still vastly healthier foods to feed your family with.