foodconsumer.org: Breakfast cereals vs. donuts and ice cream

Breakfast cereals vs. donuts and ice cream
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admin on 05/01/2009 23:10:00
 
Friday May 1, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- The first breakfast cereal was created
in 1863 and called Granula. Not exactly "Greattt" stuff, it was made of
bran-laden grains and had to be soaked overnight to eat. But, it contained
little or no sugar.
Many of today's cereals, by contrast, contain as much sugar as a glazed donut,
according to two consumer surveys. A study by a consumer watchdog group in
Britain found that some children's cereals marketed there have more sugar than a
bowl of ice cream and as much salt as a bag of potato chips.
Consumer group "Which?" found that " the vast majority of breakfast cereals
offer poor nutrition," according to the Daily Mail's online site. "Some 31 of
the 100 most popular cereals surveyed contained more than four teaspoons of
sugar per recommended serving," said the report. Many of the cereals tested and
found to be overloaded with sugar are cereals also marketed in the United
States.
Kellogg's CoCo Pops Moons and Stars, Kellogg's Frosties and Kellogg's Ricicles
all contained 14.8 grams of sugar, more than a bowl of ice cream. "Even a bowl
of Kellogg's Special K," said the report, "which is meant to be eaten as part of
a weight-loss diet, has 5.16 grams of sugar in a serving of 40 grams." One
teaspoon contains about 4 grams of sugar.
The news isn't better on this side of the pond. Consumer Reports found that 23
of the top 27 cereals marketed to children here rated only good or fair for
nutrition, according to a November 2008 study. "There is at least as much sugar
in a serving of Kellogg's Honey Smacks and 10 other rated cereals as there is in
a glazed donut from Dunkin' Donuts," stated the report. Honey Smacks and Post's
Golden Crisp both ranked at the bottom of the nutrition scale, containing more
than 50 percent sugar.
And if this news isn't bad enough, an international survey of nutrition found
that American-marketed cereals have more sugar than their European counterparts.
The study "found several cases in which the sodium and sugar in cereal sold in
the U.S. were higher than the same brands sold overseas," according to the 2008
Consumer Reports article. Part of a 32-nation study, the survey was sponsored by
International Consumer Research & Testing and Consumers International, and
discovered sugar-coated inconsistencies. "Honey Smacks sold in Germany, Slovenia
and Switzerland," states the report, "had about 40 percent sugar, compared with
55 percent in the U.S. product. Consumers International is calling on the World
Health Organization to develop international guidelines that would restrict
advertising and marketing of foods high in sugar, fat, or sodium to children."
While Kellogg's has unveiled "slightly more healthful formulas" for Apple Jacks,
Cocoa Krispies, Corn Pops and others, Consumer Reports said the change was not a
significant nutritional improvement. "Most of those products remain at the
bottom of our ratings," said the report.
The Best and the Worst
Four kids' cereals that ranked a "Very Good" rating in the Consumer Report
survey were Cheerios, Kix, Life and Honey Nut Cheerios. None of these cereals
had more than 9 grams of sugar (Cheerios only has one gram) and they all had 2
grams of fiber or more.
Posts' Golden Crisp and Kellogg's Honey Smacks ranked in the bottom because they
had the most sugar of any of the cereals tested. Other lowest-rated cereals
included Cap'n Crunch, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops and Corn Pops, all with 12 grams
of sugar and one gram of fiber or less.
(By Sheilah Downey, and edited by Heather Kelley)