FDA orders General Mills to stop cholesterol-lowering claims for Cheerios

- Credited to Stephen Barrett, M.D., Editor of Quackwatch.org

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered General Mills to stop making overly explicit disease-prevention claims for its Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal.

Because foods that contain dietary fiber can help lower cholesterol and may help prevent certain cancers as part of a healthful diet, food companies are permitted to make certain approved claims to that effect.

However, the FDA objected that the company went beyond what is legally permissible by suggesting that blood cholesterol was likely to be lowered 4% in 6 weeks by including Cheerios in a person’s diet.

[Becoat WC. Warning letter to Ken Powell, May 5, 2009]
FDA Orders General Mills to Stop ‘Cholesterol-lowering’ Claims for Cheerios Cereal

http://www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/prod/2009/cheerios.shtml