Well you might have been ahead of your time. According to newsmax.com the FDA wants to make General Mills go through the process of registering Cheerios as a new drug.
Cheerios boxes have been making claims that it can lower bad cholesterol in six weeks by 4 percent. General Mills said that all of these claims were FDA approved and that the label had been promoting the 4 percent in 6 weeks for two years now. In all reality it is this labeling that the FDA has a problem with and what they are asking General Mills to change, because they say the claims pretty much make Cheerios a drug and since it isn't a tested drug Cheerios would have to file under a new drug status.
I have to wonder where does it end. Quaker Oatmeal had commercials out a few years ago about its potential to lower bad cholesterol. Is the FDA going to prosecute them too?
I am also confused as to who the FDA is helping in this case. The consumer should be informed that these foods might be helpful in their fight against cholesterol. Not everything has to be solved with a drug or turned into a drug. So that leaves the big drug companies, who would rather that people take their drugs than try other, more natural routes, this legal battle definitely helps their cause. I would rather not get political over this, but it saddens me when politics mix with food and it never comes out tasting very good.
On a lighter note I worked my second night in a kitchen yesterday and I came home in desperate need of something to make my tired achy body feel just a little bit better. There was ice cream in the freezer, so I scooped a bowl and sat down for the first time in eight hours to enjoy the frozen milky goodness. I'm not sure what the FDA would think of it, but I think ice cream needs to put on it's label "will solve all of the world's problems." There are countless flavors of ice cream so you never really hear anyone saying that they don't like ice cream and everything that was bothering you normally disappears as you're slirping down the sugary cream.
It's almost summer time, which means ice cream time. I suggest having a constant stock in your freezer or making at least a weekly trip to your closest local ice cream shop. (Coldstone and Dairy Queen don't count. They're open all year round.) Get out there, eat some ice cream and start calling it "the solves all of the world's problems alternative drug." The FDA will still be battling with Cheerios, so I think we'll all be safe.
Happy Eating!!!
Emily
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General Mills' responsibilty: incorporated in 1928 and its origin goes back to 1866. The FDA dates back to 1899. So GM has had to put up with the all of the gov't bureaucratic red-tape that any company could stand for over 100 years. It's safe to say that GM has been scrutinized for every business decision they ever made to protect the consumer and I'm sure some costly gov't-driven changes were good for all of us and most of the laws (and unions) account for the reason why a 25-cent box of cereal costs $3.89.
ReplyDeleteDear FDA, If Cheerios is a drug, then what is Jolt?
Consumer responsibilty: If I eat a heart attack breakfast everyday and switch to Cheerios because I might believe what the label on the box claims, GM may have very well saved my life. However, if I have seaweed and sesame seeds everyday and switch to Cheerios, my cholesterol may go up 50-100 points. So isn't this a case of "Be-Informed-Buyer- Beware" retail economics. If I had read that same claim to lower cholesterol on GM's Häagen-Dazs ice cream, Pillsbury dough-based products, or Betty Crocker desserts and mixes, I might have to write GM and/or the FDA a little consumer letter about that claim. BUT I DON'T HAVE TO PUT THESE PRODUCTS IN MY SHOPPING BASKET AND HAND IT TO THE CASHIER TO PUT IN A TAKE-HOME BAG!!!
FDA responsibility: Wasn't it the FDA that approved Fen-Phen in the '70s and later Redux before a study showed many Americans suffered from pulmonary hypertension and a 30 yr-old woman died of heart complications in a 1996 study after taking the recommended dosages? The FDA needs to resist efforts to legislate ridiculous labeling laws impeding the legitimate and trusted American corporations from doing business in this country. Te FDA needs to do more to lean on imported food packaged products such as the garbage found on the so-called food shelves of these dollar stores and inform the public of the dangers lurking in the boxes of phillipino phlapjacks and cancun crispios. Remember, GM is in over 100 other countries and could easily survive w/o the FDA inspecting, analyzing and poring over every single outside-the-box business decision that might incresae the bottom line and tax liability. Or does the gov't want to control this industry too... more Obamanomics?
So true...just let us eat our Cheerios!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Mr. and Mrs. D
Such a great post!! It made me laugh. :) Man, I can't believe half the news these days.. and what IS true is either retarted (note: FDA approved cheerios) or just not worth my time. ;) Now, if you were writing for THEM.... it would be different. of course. :) -- Dy
ReplyDeleteJust bought 3 more boxes of Cheerios today!
ReplyDelete