PORTLAND, Ore. — The move towards healthier consumer products continues to pick up steam with the recent announcement from General Mills stating its intent to further reduce the amount of sugar in its cereals — that are marketed towards children — to single-digit grams per serving.
“Ready-to-eat cereals, including pre-sweetened cereals, account for only five per cent of the sugar in children’s diets,” said Jeff Harmening, president of General Mills’ Big G cereal division. “Still, we know that some consumers would prefer to see cereals that are even lower in sugar, especially children’s cereals. General Mills has responded — and we are committing to reduce sugar levels even more.”
Although General Mills had already begun reducing sugar content and increasing key nutrients in its children’s cereals, the company has reaffirmed to strengthen its goal by “publicly committing to further reduce to single-digit levels of sugar per serving for every cereal advertised to children under 12,” Harmening adds.
According to media reports, Cocoa Puffs is one of the cereals that will be affected by the change. It could have a 25 per cent drop in sugar content from its original level and 18 per cent from the current 11 grams per serving.
