Kellogg's Nailed Over "Immunity Supporting" Cereal
How cool is this! Cocoa Krispies, every child's favorite dessert--err, breakfast cereal--may actually support kids' immunity.
Or so says Kellogg's. And apparently, its some sort of unexplainable food magic, because nutrition advocates don't have a clue what Kellogg's is talking about.
Skeptics think Kellogg's is just trying to cash in on all the Swine Flu hysteria.
Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics, said, "The idea that eating Cocoa Krispies will keep a kid from getting swine flu, or from catching a cold, doesn't make sense."
She points out that all nutrients bolster immunity, and not just the hocus pocus in Cocoa Krispies. Marion sent a letter to the FDA about this, months ago.
Kelly Brownell, director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, was less forgiving, saying, "This [claim] belongs in the hall of fame. By their logic, you can spray vitamins on a pile of leaves, and it will boost immunity."
But Kellogg's has pleaded not guilty, insisting they weren't exploiting Swine Flu, but were just reacting to people's demand for more "positive nutrition."
Plus the company claims studies prove all the vitamins they add, do promote a healthy immune system.
Sorry, I'm a skeptic too. Kellogg's is full of it. They tried to cash in, and get away with it, and hoped no one would catch on. Fail!
UPDATE: Kellogg's have agreed to pull the "immunity" labels from the cereal boxes.
Via USA Today.
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I call BS on Kellogg's for saying they weren't trying to exploit people's swine flu fears. That's EXACTLY what they're doing. Kellogg's cereals are nothing but sugar and corn with synthetic vitamins thrown in to appease the parents who foolishly shell out for that crap to feed their kids. It does absolutely nothing to boost a kid's immunity and Kellogg's dang well knows it; they just put that on there knowing that parents would feel better about their choices if there was a chance that the cereal they were buying were the least bit healthy.
If you don't want your kids getting swine flu, feed them fresh fruit, eggs, and yogurt for breakfast. Or some oatmeal or something.
ReplyIt is always about money.. just like the Smart Choice program that was halted....
ReplyThis doesn't surprise me at all. Like Jody says its all for $$$$$ I can think of numerous times big companies that don't make healthy foods try to convince you their food is healthy. Anyone remember those KFC commercials claiming their chicken was a healthy choice cause it was high in protein"...bla $ bla $ bla..."
ReplyOn another note this just affirms my belief that we should be eating as little processed foods as possible and as many whole fresh foods as possible. I figure the less man touched it the better. I noticed my grocery bill has gone down too.
You want to boost immunity? Try feed your kids real food. Not processed, sugar laden rubbish.
Whole grains, natural cereal and fruit for breakfast any day!
ReplyI didn't know ingesting vast quantities of sugar made you immune to H1N1. Nice! Screw the vaccine.
ReplyIn fact eating sugar decreases immunity from disease, in addition to causing disease. Not only that, but sugar feeds cancer cells like nothing else.
ReplyAll cells feed on sugar (glucose), not just cancer cells.
ReplyYeah, but cancer cells especially love all that glucose to grow into nice big deadly tumors!
ReplySpeaking of cancer, what's with this Orizon supplement crap claiming to cure cancer on the right. Time to put on the investigative hat.
ReplyNonsense. The only way to cure cancer will be further advances in genetic therapy. We literally should have the ability to "turn off" the cancer cells rather then trying to nuke them away.
ReplyWhat a load of crap! Shame on Kellogg's for even trying that stunt. They must think the public are complete idiots for thinking a pile of sugar each day is going to help your body!
ReplyFeed kids steel cut oats instead of this crap. Also give them 100mg of Coenzyme Q10 daily with their dinner.
Reply