August 12, 2004

BUT LUCKY CHARMS AND COUNT CHOCULA MADE THE CUT

Denmark bans 'toxic' Kellogg cereals (Mail & Guardian, August 11th, 2004)

Danish health officials on Wednesday banned several vitamin-enriched products of American breakfast cereal maker Kellogg, saying they could be harmful if eaten regularly.

The 18 products, which include enriched versions of popular brands such as Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Special K, were to be launched on the Danish market later this year.

"We've turned down applications for a number of enriched products which will have toxic effects in the doses Kellogg uses," said Paolo Drotsby of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

Drotsby said that if eaten regularly the products could damage children's livers and kidneys, as well as the foetuses of pregnant women.

Enjoy your breakfast tomorrow.

Posted by Peter Burnet at August 12, 2004 7:34 PM
Comments

The article doesn't say which chemicals or ingredients in the cereal cause the problems.

My guess? Dihydrogen oxide.

Posted by: Just John at August 12, 2004 8:02 PM

Alomost certainly the fat-soluble vitamins are the culprit.

Posted by: Bruce Cleaver at August 12, 2004 8:25 PM

"Culprit" in the sense of "excuse the idiot bureaucrats are using." It's extremely difficult to overdose with any vitamin supplement, and the EU is notoriously anti-supplement. I want to see the numbers involved before I believe that Kellog's is crazy enough to put dangerous levels of vitamins in their cereal.

Posted by: PapayaSF at August 13, 2004 1:53 AM

I don't know, Papaya... one of the great public speakers of the 20th century always said to "say your prayers" before you "eat your vitamins"... guess we now know why!

Posted by: Just John at August 13, 2004 2:50 AM

Yes, and the death rate in the United States, where we have been eating Kellog's for many years, is so much higher than the existing rate in Europe.

Posted by: jd watson at August 13, 2004 4:45 AM

"I don't know, Papaya... one of the great public speakers of the 20th century always said to "say your prayers" before you "eat your vitamins"... guess we now know why!"

I don't know if I'd call Hulk Hogan a great public speaker.

Posted by: M ALi Choudhury at August 13, 2004 5:02 AM

Given the EU's general anti-technology, anti-GM foods bias, I don't trust this pronouncement any more than I trust an EU bureaucrat promising greater accountability and democracy.

Posted by: BC Monkey at August 13, 2004 9:43 AM

We could significantly reduce the attack rate of cancer, Alzheimer's, and a host of other deadly diseases if we ceased using penicillin and other antibiotics. Reducing life expectancy, and having more rapid progression from wellness to death, would deal with various "problems."

Live well and die. Have a happy day.

Posted by: LarryH at August 13, 2004 10:11 AM

What do Danes eat for breakfast anyway?

Posted by: Harry Eagar at August 13, 2004 1:58 PM
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