Who believes that Kids cereals pour on the sugar and sodium lately?
Cereals marketed to kids have 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber and 60% more sodium than those aimed at adults, according to the report from Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. Researchers there analyzed the content of popular cereals using a nutrient-profiling system and reviewed marketing data. Findings released over the weekend: •The least nutritious cereals are often the most heavily marketed to children. Among them: Reese’s Puffs, Corn Pops, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cap’n Crunch. •Companies have dropped the average sugar content of kids’ cereals from 3½ to 3 teaspoons a serving. •The average preschooler sees 642 cereal ads a year on TV. Most are for types with the worst nutrition ratings. •Some cereals with the poorest ratings have health claims on the box. “The worst cereals are being marketed very heavily to children,” says Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center. He presents the analysis today in Washington at the annual meeting of the Obe
There’s some new information out today that will come in handy the next time you’re walking down the grocery aisle trying to decide what kind of cereal to buy for your kids. Consumer Reports has conducted its first nutritional analysis of cereals marketed to children. In a report that will be published in November issue of the magazine, only four out of 27 cereals are rated as “Very Good” because they are relatively low in sugar, have some fiber, are high in iron and are a good source of calcium. They are Cheerios, Kix, Honey Nut Cheerios and Life. Cheerios topped the list with only 1 gram of sugar and 3 grams of fiber per serving. At the bottom of the list are Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Golden Crisp, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Rice Krispies, Cap’n Crunch and Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch. They have lots of sugar, little fiber, and may be high in sodium. Golden Crisp and Honey Smacks are more than 50 percent sugar, and another nine cereals are at least 40 percent sugar. In fact, the
A new study confirms what savvy consumers have long suspected: Most breakfast cereals advertised to kids are chock-full of sugar and low in fiber. Cereals marketed to kids have 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber and 60% more sodium than those aimed at adults, according to the report from Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. Researchers there analyzed the content of popular cereals using a nutrient-profiling system and reviewed marketing data. Findings released over the weekend: Sources: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-10-25-kids-cereals_N.
