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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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7

FDA Warns Cheerios to Ease Off Health Claims

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(Newser) – The FDA has a message for Cheerios: You're a cereal, not a wonder drug. The agency says General Mills must tone down its health claims or risk having its product yanked off shelves, the New York Daily News reports. The cereal box makes all sorts of claims about lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease, and the FDA says only agency-approved drugs can boast of such things.

“Your claim does not convey that all these factors together help to reduce the risk of heart disease and does not enable the public to understand the significance of the claim,” an FDA letter said, referring to other components of a healthy diet. “The science is not in question,” a General Mills spokesman said. "The FDA is interested in how the Cheerios cholesterol-lowering information is presented on the Cheerios package and Web site.” The company has 15 days to explain how it will change its marketing.

Cheerios cereal in the supermarket aisle.
Cheerios cereal in the supermarket aisle.   (AP Photo)
A GM whole grain claim.
A GM whole grain claim.   (AP Photo)
A box of General Mills' Cheerios.
A box of General Mills' Cheerios.   (AP Photo)
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7 comments
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Bubblebee
May 12, 09 5:54 PM CDT
I love Cheerios, but I don't believe in false advertisement. I think Cheerios has some explaining to do as do many other food brands and prescription drugs. Is the FDA worried about all these anti-depresent drugs that make people more depressed and end up taking their own lives? So many of the people I know personally that have been on anti-depresents have become more depressed and in one case took their own life. But, sure lets talk about Cheerios.... Reply
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Reader77013132
May 13, 09 3:40 PM CDT
these anti-depresent drugs can cause more problems they use flouride in them,flouride lowers your I-Q it is also used in rat posion.look up flouride there is nothing good about it,it causes a number of health problems,an does nothing for you teeth,they put it in you drinking water lets say that it does help your teeth,why are you ingesting it.all drugs are toxic to the body,your dr. is making money by pushing drugs
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Reader64481089
May 12, 09 6:45 PM CDT
Bubblebee, you are correct in so many ways. They want to focus on a rather insignificant claim by a cereal and ignore the suicide rate caused by anti depressants and many other chemical compounds. Then we have drinking water that also contains the same drugs and instead of attempting to address that problem they simply raise the acceptable levels of the various compounds allowed. Mass manipulation and misdirection, pacify the population with a campaign of lies by omission. It is business as usual with the companies doing as they wish because they contribute money in large quantities to the right politicians. Reply
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Reader68188988
May 12, 09 7:41 PM CDT
GLAM, all the weight reduction, take-my-drug-for-your problem you didn't know about, exercise equipment, sex improvement, crotch-smell-perfume ads we have to wade through to get to the Jerry Springer-type news, and Cheerios is something to get uptight about? I will be ground zero for the comet Lord, aim it now and make it fast! Reply
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BrightEyes
May 13, 09 12:25 AM CDT
They've actually strengthened warnings on anti-depressants multiple times and they require pharmacist to consult with patients and hand out a separate anti-depressant info sheet. The problem partly comes in when a severely depressed person begins to get better and gets their energy back due to the anti-depressant, but still isn't mentally stable so they have the energy and drive to go through with or attempt a suicide where they didn't before. Reply
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