October 1, 2004

SO NOW MOM WILL LET US HAVE LUCKY CHARMS?:

Cereals will get healthier: General Mills making switch to whole grains (ELLIS MNYANDU, 10/01/04, Reuters News Service)

General Mills on Thursday said it will begin using whole grains in all of its breakfast cereals, including such well-known brands as Lucky Charms and Trix, becoming the latest food maker to promote healthier eating.

The Minneapolis-based company, which already uses whole grain for about 60 percent of its cereal line, said the change will be backed by new packaging featuring "Whole Grain" labeling on every box, starting in October.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 1, 2004 7:42 PM
Comments

What is General Mills going to do about the sucrose content of the new Charms?

Is the new labeling going to say "Whole Grain - Same Sugar - The best of both worlds!" ?

Posted by: John J. Coupal at October 1, 2004 11:04 PM

As an aside I was in the supermarket last night and saw 'Spongebob Pop Tarts.' They claimed to have strawberry filling. When I looked at the list of ingredients I noticed that 'dried strawberries' was about eighth on the list behind such comestibles as high fructose corn syrup. And then they wonder why the kiddies need Ritalin.

Posted by: Bart at October 2, 2004 7:20 AM

Whole grains which are higher in fiber content will slow the conversion of the carbohydrates in the grain portion of the cereal to blood sugar, which is good. The added sugar will still spike blood sugar levels, but in the current cereals the milled grains are indistinguishable from the refined sugars from a metabolic standpoint.

Posted by: Robert Duquette at October 2, 2004 1:19 PM

When I was a kid and ate Lucky Charms, I always ate the grain part first. That way I could completely indulge myself with the marshmellows afterwards.

Posted by: Vince at October 2, 2004 4:42 PM

This is generally good news, although a small step; it's at least a reversal of the trend towards more refined foods.

Vince:

I have to think that you were a rarity among children, with your system of delayed gratification.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at October 3, 2004 9:37 PM
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