Why should I cancel my breakfast cereal? #cancelKelloggs

Why are people upset with Kellogg’s and what does it have to do with me?

Great question and I wanted to take some time to explain what is going on with the march on Kellogg’s on Oct 15th and why it is so important and ultimately affects you.

For many years- and social media has helped shine a light on this-food companies have made two versions (at least) of their products. One is for the U.K. and the European Union and one for the U.S. Ok, so what is the deal with that you may ask?!  There are an estimated 10,000 food additives that are “approved” by the FDA to be added to the processed food made here. In comparison, there are only about 411 approved additives allowed in the UK. (Some estimates are up to 700 allowed in the UK but that still pales in comparison to 10,000)

To delve in a little bit further, let us look at Froot Loops. (The irony not lost on me that the spelling is Froot not Fruit). The U.K.’s version is arguably much healthier with the ingredients listed as : Cereal flours (79%) (wheat, oat, maize), sugar, glucose syrup, salt, fruit and vegetable concentrates (carrot, cherry), natural citrus flavouring with other natural flavourings, colour (carotenes).

The U.S’s version is listed as:  Corn flour blend (whole grain yellow corn flour, degerminated yellow corn flour), sugar, wheat flour, whole grain oat flour, modified food starch, contains 2% or less of vegetable oil (hydrogenated coconut, soybean and/or cottonseed), oat fiber, maltodextrin, salt, soluble corn fiber, natural flavor, red 40, yellow 5, blue 1, yellow 6, BHT for freshness. Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), reduced iron, niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.

Big difference, right?

Let us focus on the dyes alone: Red dye 40, yellow 5, blue 1, yellow 6.

Many are unaware that these additives have direct links to ADHD, and hormone disruptions in kids and adults. Further, red dye 40 (and yellow 5) are essentially crude oils, made from petroleum that is yes, the same petroleum you use to power your car. Disgusting right?

How did we get here. It’s a long story but to get into current-ish times…In 2011 when these dyes were being ingested everywhere, the U.S. chose not to limit or ban them.  The European Union did the opposite and further more these dyes are banned in countries like Australia. It is estimated that people in the United States are ingesting AFCs (artificial food coloring) at four times the rate they did 50 years ago, when these dyes were first introduced. (Source: Healthline : FD&C Yellow 5: What It Is, Health Effects, Cancer Risk, and More (healthline.com)

Long term affects are cancer. (Great right?) And, it’s not just Froot Loops. These dyes and other chemicals that I have not even researched, are everywhere. Stick to eggs! It is has been said that America spends more on health care than any other modern nation – yet we have the most chronic disease and shortest lifespan  – which btw is actually decreasing!

Everyone is wondering why the kids are not alright or why we have alarming cancer rates! We also have an obesity epidemic (hormone disruptors affect weight and not to mention sugar sugar sugar!) that affect children as well as adults.

Is it one thing? No but our food supply could be changed, could be safer, could be better.

The foodbabe (find her on Instagram) sent out a petition (you may have seen this floating around on socials and marched with the petition to the Kellogg’s headquarters this week.

She was not taken to kindly. Will this make a difference? Hard to tell but I am definitely down for a food revolution.

What can you do? As they say – vote with your dollars. Do not buy any Kellogg’s food products until they make a change. This change has already been invented, tested and boxed up – so why the big issue? The bottom line. Money. It probably won’t taste as good and people will stop buying it. 

Here is a list of some of Kellogg’s mass produced processed foods. Consider boycotting them. It’s better to eat fresh real food anyway!

Bear Naked, Cheez-it Crackers, Eggo, Fruit Winders, Fuity Snacks, Morningstar Farms, Club Crackers, Nutri-Grain, Pop Tarts, Pringles, Rxbar, Sunshine Biscuits, Rice Krispie Treats, Garden Burger, Special K snack bars, Town House – and several others!