-America’s Worst Cereal- Accused of Containing Ingredients Banned in Many Countries

During a recent interview with the Daily Mail, renowned food safety expert Dr. Darin Detwiler criticized Kellogg’s Froot Loops, labeling it as the “worst breakfast cereal” in America. He highlighted concerns regarding the artificial colors in the cereal that have been linked to cancer risks, which have led to bans in several European countries, yet remain available in the U.S. market, provoking widespread protests from celebrities and activists.

Dr. Detwiler, a former head of the FDA, emphasized that Froot Loops are “heavily processed” and packed with high levels of added sugars, artificial colors, and preservatives, all of which can contribute to various health issues. He pointed out that each serving contains 12.35 grams of sugar, almost three teaspoons, which is close to half the daily sugar limit recommended for children. He noted that many kids tend to consume far more than the suggested serving size. Together with several activists, he has called on Kellogg’s to reduce artificial additives and high sugar content in their cereals and to reconsider their recipes.

Dr. Detwiler warned that the use of highly processed ingredients, especially artificial colors linked to cancer risk, such as Red 40, could pose long-term health risks. This particular dye has been banned in multiple European countries due to its associations with ADHD and cancer risk, yet it still appears in American products.

Kellogg’s previously pledged to eliminate all artificial colors and ingredients from their cereals by 2018, a promise that they have yet to fulfill fully. Dr. Detwiler advised that cereals high in sugar and artificial colors, like Froot Loops and Lucky Charms, should only be consumed on rare occasions, rather than as a part of a daily diet.

Recently, actress Eva Mendes took to Instagram to criticize harmful dyes in American children’s cereals, including Froot Loops, and urged companies to remove these additives. She pointed out that the Canadian version of Froot Loops uses natural color sources like blueberry, carrot, and watermelon juice, while the American version still relies on artificial ingredients like Red 40.

Last week, Mendes rallied her 6.6 million followers to participate in a peaceful protest at Kellogg’s headquarters in Michigan and delivered a petition with nearly 400,000 signatures. She wrote on Instagram, “I grew up eating cereal and still love it, but after learning that these ingredients are banned in other countries, I refuse to choose Kellogg’s products because these ingredients are harmful to children.”

In response, Kellogg’s stated that 85% of their cereal products no longer contain artificial colors. However, the company has not provided specific details regarding the unfulfilled commitments.