Kellogg's 'Immunity' Claim Stokes H1N1 Ire

Company profiting from parents' swine flu fears, critics charge

By Sarah Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2009 12:11 PM CST

(Newser) – Kellogg's claim that its cereal has immunity-boosting powers is a cheap way to capitalize on parents' swine flu fears, critics tell USA Today. "This one belongs in the hall of fame," says the director of Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. The boxes in question announce in bold type: "Now helps support your child's immunity." But the company says the cereal line has been in the works since before the swine flu scare ramped up.

"Kellogg developed this product in response to consumers expressing a need for more positive nutrition," a rep said. But either way, experts say cereal isn't the you from getting sick. "The idea that eating Cocoa Krispies will keep a kid from getting swine flu, or from catching a cold, doesn't make sense," a nutrition professor said. "Yes, these nutrients are involved in immunity, but I can't think of a nutrient that isn't involved in the immune system."

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Kellogg's cereals claiming to boost immunity are shown on grocery shelves in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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I am concerned the prominent use of the immunity claims to advertise a sugar-laden chocolate cereal like Cocoa Krispies may mislead and deceive parents of young children. - San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera, in a letter to Kellogg

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 19 comments

effay

Nov 3, 2009 12:29 PM CST

"But either way, experts say cereal isn't the you from getting sick."

grassisntgreener

Nov 3, 2009 5:48 AM CST

rice krispie treats boost the immune system.

mehrheit

Nov 3, 2009 1:45 AM CST

AMEN spudsy! I don't work on the creative side, I just help them make sure the ads make you feel properly needy and inadequate. And still I can feel the stain on my soul. ATTN: consumers - don't wanna buy product X? Weeeellll, don't be surprised if your kids don't love you quite as much anymore then. We TRIED to warn you... Hey ladies: sure, he says you're beautiful, but you can't be sure he means it unless you spackle your face with this new breakthrough in beauty. It has ViscoVitaminous LuminaSpheres (TM)!!! (and who don't need that shit, eh?) Oh, you have kids and you work a lot? Well, I'm not going to say you're *abusing* your kids, BUT they'll probably grow up to hate you if you don't serve our GMO+preservative-laden slop. Don't blame us, we tried to warn you.

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Kellogg's 'Immunity' Claim Stokes H1N1 Ire