Cereal Makers Scolded Because Claim Of Lowering Cholesterol 10 Percent In Month Makes It A "Drug"
Company Fires Back: This Is About Language, Not Science
NEW YORK (CBS) ― The Food and Drug Administration scolded the
makers of Cheerios about the way they promote the cereal's health benefits. The FDA sent a letter of warning to General Mills accusing them of making unauthorized health claims.
Current boxes of Cheerios are touting what the company calls exciting news -- the cereal's ability to help lower cholesterol 10 percent in one month.
"My mother actually eats it every day, seven days a week for breakfast to lower her cholesterol," Staten Island resident Lauren Schwam said.
According to a letter from the FDA General Mills' advertising violates the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The agency said claims that Cheerios ingredients can lower cholesterol within a certain amount of time, all while providing cancer-fighting and heart-healthy benefits, essentially makes Cheerios "a drug" by their definition. And no drug in this country can be legally marketed without an approved new drug application.
As a certified dietetic nutritionist, Keri Glassman often recommends foods high in soluble fiber for patients looking to lower their cholesterol.
"Because of the oats, because of the soluble fiber in Cheerios, it may help you reduce cholesterol and I think the FDA is still acknowledging that ... I just think they are saying but you can't really say that because you are a food product, not a drug," Glassman said.
People CBS 2 HD spoke to say this dispute over the cereal's health claims won't change how often they buy or eat Cheerios.
"Mostly 'cause kids eat them, they're fun, round, they're easy to eat," said Jennifer Wood of the Upper East Side.
"It doesn't change what's in the box," added Michael Zorek of the Upper West Side. "It's healthy no matter what they say."
The FDA gave General Mills 15 days to explain how it will correct the statements on Cheerios boxes.
In a statement issued Tuesday, General Mills said this dispute is over language, not science. The company pointed out that the FDA'a complaint doesn't actually question whether Cheerios can help lower cholesterol levels -- it only talks about how the health benefits are advertised.
I don't see what the fuss is about, Cherrios aren't allowed to make those kinds of claims in Europe either. The legislation is mostly used to prevent the spread of quack/nonsense science and medicines, if the FDA didn't respond other companies would start saying well they're allowed to do it so why can't we?
Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money.
They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with.
Some men just want to watch the world burn.
Originally Posted by Everybody's Grudge Wow. George Orwell is laughing at us from heaven, pointing an accusing finger and saying "I told you so."
So is Aldous Huxley
My husband is my best friend.
In forgiving others, we are not exonerating them. They may not deserve exoneration. Rather, in forgiving others we are giving up our anger over the fact that what happened is not what "should" have happened or that our life is not the way it "should" have been.
I frankly think it's silly and the FDA is going over board.
If you read the information, printed in big letters, on the front of the box, it flat out says that Cheerios contain x number of grams of soluble fiber per serving, and that eating more than x number of grams of soluble fiber a day has been shown to help lower bad cholesterol.
That information about soluble fiber has been around for aaaaaaaaaages and has been well studied. It's not like they are saying anything new, or anything that is unfounded.
If they were saying that the magical jelly bean extract found only in the deep jungle of oogie-boogie-bah-ha is the stuff that lowers your cholesterol, then I could see where the FDA would have an issue.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
If they were saying that the magical jelly bean extract found only in the deep jungle of oogie-boogie-bah-ha is the stuff that lowers your cholesterol, then I could see where the FDA would have an issue.
That settles it Jo. I'll get the camping equipment, you get the food, and we'll go on a safari!
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
