General Mills’ cereal products invoke legal investigation over ‘healthy’ claims
The Attorney General’s office has issued a civil investigative demand (CID) to General Mills.
USA – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into cereal giant General Mills for promoting its goods as “healthy.”
The company’s cereals are advertised as a “good source” of vitamins and minerals, according to a statement from Paxton’s office, even though they include petroleum-based food colours that have been connected to health problems like obesity and hyperactivity disorders.
General Mills promised to eliminate chemical dyes from six of their cereals in 2015, and they succeeded.
According to Paxton’s office, the business made money off of the announcement and received a lot of media attention.
However, the office pointed out that General Mills started selling cereals with artificial dyes again in the US only two years later.
While General Mills has offered reformulated, dye-free cereals in other countries, the office pointed out that, while acknowledging possible health risks, the company has not included warnings for American consumers.
According to the Attorney General’s office, the business ought to provide all Americans and Texans with the same items.
“Under my watch, big food companies should be on high alert that they will be held accountable if they put toxic ingredients in our food and engage in false marketing,” Paxton said.
The investigation comes after the US Food and Drug Administration announced plans to phase out food colours made from petroleum by the end of the next year.
The FDA intends to phase out six additional synthetic colours and revoke authorization for some artificial food colourings, such as Orange B and Citrus Red No. 2.
This investigation follows another instance in which Paxton launched an investigation at WK Kellogg for possible infractions of the state’s consumer protection statutes.
The inquiry was spurred by the promotion of WK Kellogg’s cereal items, like Rice Krispies, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and Froot Loops, as “healthy” choices.
The Attorney General voiced concern about the connections between these substances and conditions like cancer, autoimmune illnesses, obesity, ADHD, and endocrine disorders.
According to Paxton’s office, Kellogg’s made a misleading assertion that it will eliminate these artificial colorants and the preservative BHT from its products in the United States, even though it has already done so in Canada and Europe.
“I am proud to stand with the Trump Administration and Secretary Kennedy in taking on petroleum-based synthetic dyes and will always fight to protect the health of the American people,” Paxton said.
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