New nutrition labels endorse sugary cereals – Is this for real???!
About a year ago, I wrote about these new Smart Choices nutrition labels designed to make it easier for us to spot healthier foods in the grocery store. Now, I'm starting to think they're a bad idea. The green check mark has been showing up on hundreds of packages of foods, including sugar-laden cereals like Cocoa Krispies and Froot Loops!
In my opinion, this really takes away from the credibility of the new system and sends out an unhealthy message. The program defends the products it endorses, including sweet cereals, saying Froot Loops are "better than other things parents could choose for their children." Seriously?
I just looked up Froot Loops' ingredient list. The first thing listed is SUGAR. How can that possibly be a smart choice? Didn't the American Heart Association just urge us to cut WAY back on sugar?
Before it can be considered for the Smart Choices program, every product must meet criteria for nutrients to limit, based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For added sugars, that's a maximum of 25 percent of total calories. So, does this really make Froot Loops and other sugary cereals a "smart choice"… or just another marketing gimmick?
Check out this video: Hidden sugar in foods you may not expect
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