Has Cheerios been deceiving us about its health benefits?

May 15, 4:57 PMSeattle Women's Health ExaminerKellie Fielding

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Has Cheerios been deceiving us about it true health benefits? With the recent claims made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, this is a question that has been receiving a lot of attention in the media.

The cereals box claims that you could “lower your cholesterol 4 percent in six weeks” by consuming this product. However, the FDA states that “companies are not allowed to claim a specific degree of risk reduction”. In a letter dated May 5th, the FDA warned General Mills that the cereal’s current labeling stating its "clinically proven to help lower cholesterol" actually makes the product a drug under federal law. The letter also warns General Mills that the cereal “may not be legally marketed with these claims in the United States without an approved new drug application”.

General Mills spokesman Tom Forsythe said the Cheerios box's message, which states that the cereal can "lower your cholesterol 4% in six weeks", has been used for more than two years. The box cites a clinical study involving Cheerios as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The company is currently working with the FDA to try to reach a resolution for its labeling.

Cheerios shares the breakfast table with millions of households every day and has been a household name for over sixty years. Back in 1941, Cheerios made its first appearance as a ready-to-eat oat cereal under the name “Cheerioats”. It wasn’t until the late 1940’s that General Mills decided to change the cereal’s name to Cheerios. Studies done back in 1989 had revealed that oat bran may reduce cholesterol and the cereal promptly began utilizing these research results in its advertising.
Fast forward to the late 1990’s when the Food and Drug Administration issued the first health claim confirmation stating that “Cheerios and other oat products can lower the risk of heart disease”. It was during this same time frame that the cereal box began featuring the American Heart Association’s seal of heart and checkmark showing it had met the AHA guidelines for food certification.

What do you think about the FDA letter to General Mills? Should the cereal company change its labeling on Cheerios? Please share your thoughts and comments.