As I am browsing my Facebook page today I came across something very funny and interesting. It seems we’ve got another case of lying companies to sell their product on our hands, and it is from the same company: Kellogg’s. If you remember earlier when I was speaking to you about the cocoa crispies and how Kellogg’s is claiming that they are healthy.
Well it seems we can add another crazy marketing lying scheme to the mix. When I was browsing my Facebook page I found a post from a nutrition expert Chris Mohr with a link to the box for the Kellogg’s Froot Loops.
So what could it be this time? Do Froot Loops have healing properties, or do they suddenly boost immunity to fight colds and disease? No that is not the case it seems but rather Kellogg’s is labeling their Froot Loops box with a big banner and the huge word “fiber.” Now it is true that Kellogg’s Froot Loops have about 3 g of fiber, minimal at best. But what’s really sad is their tactical phrase written underneath of the word fiber.
Underneath the humongous word fiber in much smaller letters but still big enough to read it says “a great way to keep kids healthy.” Now it is true that fiber is good for you. Fiber is found in lots of different vegetables and fruits that are really nutritious and healthy for you eat. These fruits and vegetables contain fiber, are natura,l and not only provide us with fiber but give us vitamins and minerals.
Do you think that Kellogg’s Froot Loops are also providing you with the same nutritional benefits? Well if we look at the ingredient list for a box of Kellogg’s Froot Loops, we can see the number one ingredient is none other than sugar. Ingredient number two is whole-grain corn flour (basically more sugar). So really the first two ingredients you have are sugar. If you know anything about nutrition labels then you know that the ingredients that are listed first make up the majority of the product.
That would mean that Kellogg’s Froot Loops, which are being claimed as a great way to keep kids healthy are mainly sugar. Now of course if you keep reading the ingredients list you’ll run across whole wheat flour, oat grain, and finally trans fats. Anyone not living under a rock for the last few years knows that everyone is touting their no trans fat claims.
You’ll also know that they’re being banned in certain places such as New York City. They’ve also been taken out a lot of fast food restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken which now allows them to claim that their food is healthier. And we can’t say this not helpful because when the trans fats are removed it does make a food better. But that by no means makes Kentucky Fried Chicken is a first choice health-food
So going back to the Froot Loops, you might be interested to know that the sugar content makes up 44% of the product. Wonder why your children are bouncing off the walls? It’s quite simple when you think about it, cereals have become a regular staple for breakfast. Hell I enjoyed it as much as the next person. Growing up I was eating Lucky Charms, Honeycomb, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc.
But just because we ate those as kids, does that make them any better for our kids? Well it’s really up to you to decide what you think is best for your children. But there are two things that I know: sugar is for quick energy and more and more children are being classified as ADHD. I’m not saying they are directly related but this merely my opinion.
Here are some closing thoughts though… When packing your kids lunch or snack for school, instead of giving them sugary snacks like fruit roll ups, you can try giving them things like cantaloupe, watermelon, or apple slices. These foods will go a long way in helping your children stay focused, curbing behavioral issues, and providing them with better nutrients than they would get in those other foods.
How do you feel about this news? How do you feel about Kelloggs? Leave a comment below.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You mention fiber is important and that these big food industry companies are marketing that the fiber in their product is good for you. Much of their so called “health claims” are nothing more than wishing wells of hope that people will be convinced enough to buy their product despite it having enough sugar per serving to send a diabetic into shock as well as create more diabetics.
Grains have fiber, yes, BUT their fiber is useless to our bodies and even promotes inflammation.
I’m gonna quote Mark Sisson, Paleo eater and author of the book “The Primal Blueprint”:
Food industry and doctors(who don’t really know nutrition at all… their area of study is medicine.) claim that: “You need the fiber!”
Okay, for one: no, I don’t. If you’re referring to its oft-touted ability to move things along in the inner sanctum, fiber has some unintended consequences. A few years back, scientists found that high-fiber foods “bang up against the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract, rupturing their outer covering” which “increases the level of lubricating mucus.” Err, that sounds positively awful. Banging and tearing? Rupturing? These are not the words I like to hear. But wait! The study’s authors say, “It’s a good thing.” Fantastic! So when all those sticks and twigs rub up against my fleshy interior and literally rupture my intestinal lining, I’ve got nothing to worry about. It’s all part of the plan, right?
Somehow, I’m not convinced that a massive daily infusion of insoluble grain fiber is all that essential. And that “lubricating mucus” sounds an awful like the mucus people with irritable bowel syndrome complain about. From personal experience I can tell you that once I completed my exodus from grains, the IBS completely stopped. If you’re not yet convinced on the fiber issue I’ll refer you to Konstantin Monastyrsky’s Fiber Menace. Anyway, there’s plenty of fiber in the vegetables and fruit I eat.
Essentially grains are utterly unnecessary in our diets when there are ready sources of carbs such as fruits, veggies, beans, etc. ready for us to eat. These are also more easily absorbed and contain tons and tons of vital nutrients. There is no reason whatsoever that humans need to consume grain foods. None.
Great post by Mark. Agree 100%.