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UPI
23-05-2025
- Health
- UPI
Sugar, fat, salt on rise in U.S. breakfast cereals, study shows
Breakfast cereals in the United States now contain more sugar, fat and salt, while key nutrients like protein and fiber are on the decline, according to research published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open. File photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA-EFE May 22 (UPI) -- They're a go-to breakfast for millions of kids and adults. They're brightly colored, packed in enticing boxes and often marketed as healthy -- but many cereals today are actually less nutritious than they were a decade ago, a new study has found. Breakfast cereals in the United States. now contain more sugar, fat and salt, while key nutrients like protein and fiber are on the decline, according to research published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open. The study looked at 1,200 newly launched or reformulated cereals sold between 2010 and 2023. Researchers found that while these cereals are often promoted as healthy, their nutrition labels tell a different story. "What's most surprising to me is that the healthy claims made on the front of these products and the nutritional facts on the back are actually going in the opposite direction," study co-author Shuoli Zhao, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky, told The New York Times. The study found that, per serving, total fat in breakfast cereals rose by 34%, sodium by 32%, and sugar by nearly 11% over the 13-year period. This trend concerns experts because ready-to-eat cereals are a major part of the American diet, especially for kiddos, The Times reported. Nearly one-third of children eat cereal each morning, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But only 15% eat fruit with their meal, and just 10% of kids eat eggs. Dr. Peter Lurie, head of the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, called the results surprising. "It's extraordinary that, at a time when Americans are becoming more health conscious, a product often marketed as offering a healthy start to one's day is actually getting less healthy," Lurie told The Times. Some nutrition experts say the food industry creates confusion. "It reinforces my belief that the food marketplace is very confusing, and that's not by accident," said Josephine Connolly-Schoonen, head of the nutrition division at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, who was not involved with the study. "The food industry engineers the confusion." She encourages families to focus on whole foods like overnight oats, eggs, fruit and whole-grain bread. The three largest cereal makers in the United States -- Kellogg's, General Mills and Post -- did not respond to The Times' requests for comment. U.S. cereal makers do produce healthier versions of some brands in countries like Canada and in Europe. Meanwhile, cereals served in U.S. schools have become more nutritious thanks to a 2010 federal law. New rules limiting sugar in school cereals take effect this summer, with even stricter rules coming in 2027, the School Nutrition Association says. Diane Pratt-Heavner, a spokesperson for the group, said she hopes food makers will offer these healthier products to the general American public. "If we're encouraging kids to eat healthier at school," she said, "then we want them to be eating healthier at home too." More information KidsHealth has a list of breakfast ideas for kids. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Kids' breakfast cereals have been getting more unhealthy, study finds
Breakfast cereal is often appealing for being easy, kid friendly — and sweet. But a recent study found that children's breakfast cereals have been getting sweeter, fattier and less nutritious. In a study published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open, researchers from the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University say they analyzed the nutritional value of cereals between 2010 and 2023 — specifically those marketed toward children aged 5 to 12. In those 13 years, 1,200 cereals were launched, which includes new products, new formulations and new packaging. The researchers found that during that time, the total fat per serving increased 33.6% on average in the cereal brands. Sodium content increased 32.1% — from 156.0 mg to 206.1 mg. The recommended daily serving of sodium for kids aged 5 to 8 is less than 1,500 mg and for kids aged 9 to 13, it is less than 1,800 mg, according to the Mayo Clinic. Total carbohydrates remained relatively stable — with the average of 27.32 g in 2010 and 28.45 g in 2023. Sugar content increased by 10.9%. Protein and dietary fiber — two necessary nutrients — decreased. While protein fluctuated between 2010 and 2020, with an average 1.97 g per serving, it decreased in 2023 to 1.69 g per serving. And dietary fiber was also steady until it showed a decrease from 2021 to 2023: 3.82 g to 2.84 g per serving. In a statement to CBS News, Shuoli Zhao, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at University of Kentucky and co-author of the study, told CBS News breakfast is a critical meal for kids and impacts their energy and concentration for their learning throughout the day. "If a common breakfast choice like cereal is trending towards lower nutritional quality in its newest iterations, as our study suggests, it potentially makes it harder for parents to ensure their children are getting a healthy start to the day," Zhao said. "I also feel these findings contribute to the broader discussion about the overall 'food environment' that children are exposed to, as often times, working families may have limited 'bandwidth' and time on grocery shopping, which leads to unintended suboptimal decisions in food choices." Zhao said what is available at the supermarket shelves is important, and he hopes the research sparks a conversation on how food industry stakeholders can create healthier options for kids. Zhao declined to share which brands were studied and which showed the biggest decrease in nutritional value. The study used data from a database on food and beverage launches managed by Mintel, a market intelligence and research agency. A 2014 study found that some cereals can be a part of a nutritious diet. Those that are whole grain or high in fiber can be important sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, according to the study published by the National Institutes of Health. However, while these cereals could even be the most important sources of whole grains in one's diet, they could also contain salt, sugar and saturated fat, raising uncertainty about their nutritional benefits, the researchers say. A 2023 study published by NIH found that those who ate cereal for breakfast had a better nutritional intake and diet quality. The researchers say 28% of children and 12% of adults are ready-to-eat breakfast consumers. Kids who eat cereal for breakfast have higher intakes of several nutrients including carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, B vitamins, vitamins A and D, and whole grains, according to the study. They also said there was no difference between kids who eat cereal for breakfast and those who eat other foods for breakfast when it comes to added sugar, saturated fat or sodium intake. Zhao told CBS News via email the researchers would like to conduct a similar survey looking at the nutrition of cereals marketed toward adults. "It is a research topic in need," he said, citing a 2014 report by the Environmental Working Group that found that children's cereals contained, on average, 40% more sugar than those marketed to adults.
