General Mills (GIS) -) continues to make strides to increase the number of "healthy" cereals in its portfolio. That comes on the heels of last year's Food and Drug Administration announcement about a change in what it believes should be considered a healthy breakfast.
It’s no surprise that some beloved cereals took a hit with this FDA announcement. However it was a little surprising to see a few weren’t as healthy as they present themselves. The cereal listed with the most sugar and corn syrup was Post Consumers Brands’ (POST) -) Golden Crisp with 18 grams of sugar per serving.
Some of the cereals that were a little shocking to see on the list were Kellogg’s (K) -) cereals Special K with 4 grams of added sugar and 270 milligrams of sodium, Frosted Mini Wheats with 12 grams of added sugar and Raisin Bran's 9 grams of added sugar.
General Mills’ cereals on the list: Honey Nut Cheerios and Corn Flakes. The FDA announcement stated that any cereal that had more than 2.5 added grams of sugar and 230 milligrams of sodium was unhealthy. Corn Flakes have 4 grams of added sugar and 300 milligrams of sodium.
General Mills Takes Action
The cereal company has been busy looking for a way to increase the health benefits of its cereals. General Mills’ brands that are getting an uptick in Vitamin D are Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Trix and Cookie Crisp.
These cereals will be serving up double the amount of Vitamin D previously in them and will hit the grocery shelves this summer. General Mills is the first cereal company to broadly make this nutritional change as part of their ‘Goodness We Grow Up On Campaign.’
“General Mills Big G Cereals have long been a leader in delivering good nutrition,” said President of U.S. Morning Foods Ricardo Fernandez. “We were proud to be the first major company to make whole grain the first ingredient in our Big G Cereals recipes nearly 20 years ago, a commitment that stands to this day.”
“And with the newly increased Vitamin D fortification of these cereals, we’re proud to remind parents of the goodness they grew up on with Big G and how we continue to deliver nutritious options for their families today.”
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“Cereal is one of few foods that’s consumed across the lifespan and a household staple that can support good nutrition to a large portion of the population,” said Registered Dietitian and Sr. Nutrition Manager at General Mills, Amy Cohn.
“Doubling the Vitamin D content of our Big G Cereals is just another step in our continued commitment to providing affordable, accessible nutrition because we know that breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated or break the bank – and it can be as easy as a beloved bowl of cereal.”
Change Is In the Air or At Least In the Cereal Aisle
General Mills isn’t just putting more vitamins in its cereals, but it's also changing its appearance. The company is making mini versions of some of its beloved cereal brands.
General Mills' brands Trix and Reese’s Puffs got the tiny makeover. The cereals will have the same flavor, texture and nutrients, just you know, much, much smaller.
