Cheerios are a drug!

[Evil Genius]

Or so says the FDA.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Popular US breakfast cereal Cheerios is a drug, at least if the claims made on the label by its manufacturer General Mills are anything to go by, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.


"Based on claims made on your product's label, we have determined that your Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug," the FDA said in a letter to General Mills which was posted on the federal agency's website Tuesday.


Cheerios labels claim that eating the cereal can help lower bad cholesterol, a risk factor for coronary heart disease, by four percent in six weeks.


Citing a clinical study, the product labels also claim that eating two servings a day of Cheerios helps to reduce bad cholesterol when eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, the FDA letter says.


Those claims indicate that Cheerios -- said by General Mills to be the best-selling cereal in the United States -- is intended to be used to lower cholesterol and prevent, lessen or treat the disease hypercholesterolemia, and to treat and prevent coronary heart disease.


"Because of these intended uses, the product is a drug," the FDA concluded in its letter.


Not only that, but Cheerios is a new drug because it has not been "recognized as safe and effective for use in preventing or treating hypercholesterolemia or coronary heart disease," the FDA said.

 

[ols386]

I'd rather the FDA be more concerned about the many food products over the past few years, that have been tainted with salmanila, rather than worrying about Cheerios. The FDA must not have enough to do, either that, or their priorities are screwed-up. JMO

 

[Stitchfans]

I saw that on the news yesterday. I just laughed at it and moved on.

 

[Cool-Beans]

The FDA is nuts. No surprise there.

Can't they be happy about making millions and millions of dollars off of the drug companies and leave General Mills alone?

 

[Pakey]

They'd better start a Cheerios Anonymous then because I eat the dang things daily.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I heard about this on the news this morning.

SO what about anti-oxidants? Vitamins?

FDA- hello! Do you know that even pure food is made up of chemicals that undergo chemical reactions which can also have bewildering effects.

Calcium in milk helps fortify bones, will that be classified as a drug?

Potassium is in bananas.

Iron is in spinach.

Are all foods drugs now?

I guess so.

 

[themarquis]

SO what about anti-oxidants? Vitamins?

FDA- hello! Do you know that even pure food is made up of chemicals that undergo chemical reactions which can also have bewildering effects.

Calcium in milk helps fortify bones, will that be classified as a drug?

Potassium is in bananas.

Iron is in spinach.

Are all foods drugs now?

I think the issue is just that the FDA doesn't allow them to *describe cheerios using that kind of language* (making specific health claims) ... NOT that it actually has stuff in it that has effects on the body, lol!

I agree it sounds ridiculous, but the FDA's rules about food/drug labeling do make sense and it's good that they exist. They're there to protect people from misleading labeling that could negatively impact their health. Think about it -- what if all food companies could label their products as being able to cure your cancer or prevent Alzheimers or whatever? Not good.

Funny story, though!

 

[momrek06]

Well then I am a drug addict!! I love Cheerios more to snack on then as cereal!!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I think the issue is just that the FDA doesn't allow them to *describe cheerios using that kind of language* (making specific health claims) ... NOT that it actually has stuff in it that has effects on the body, lol!

I agree it sounds ridiculous, but the FDA's rules about food/drug labeling do make sense and it's good that they exist. They're there to protect people from misleading labeling that could negatively impact their health. Think about it -- what if all food companies could label their products as being able to cure your cancer or prevent Alzheimers or whatever? Not good.

Funny story, though!

Well, apparently the FDA approved the maker of Cheerios to say those things 11 years ago. They just apparently never signed off on it.

Why aren't they going after Quaker Oats? Don't they pretty much say the same thing?

Actually, just about anything these days that high in fiber says that it's heart healthy.

 

[DarthKTrava]

Well then I am a drug addict!! I love Cheerios more to snack on then as cereal!!

I've eaten them as a snack. This is one cereal I hate WITH milk.

 

[sbell111]

I think the issue is just that the FDA doesn't allow them to *describe cheerios using that kind of language* (making specific health claims) ... NOT that it actually has stuff in it that has effects on the body, lol!

I agree it sounds ridiculous, but the FDA's rules about food/drug labeling do make sense and it's good that they exist. They're there to protect people from misleading labeling that could negatively impact their health. Think about it -- what if all food companies could label their products as being able to cure your cancer or prevent Alzheimers or whatever? Not good.

Agreed. General Mills presents the product in such a way that forces the FDA to see it as a drug. If they presented it just like they do other cereals, teh FDA would not do anything.

 

[themarquis]

Well, apparently the FDA approved the maker of Cheerios to say those things 11 years ago. They just apparently never signed off on it.

Why aren't they going after Quaker Oats? Don't they pretty much say the same thing?

Actually, just about anything these days that high in fiber says that it's heart healthy.

I think there is a distinction between "specific health claims" and "structure and function claims" according to the FDA. Basically, food and supplements are allowed to use "structure and function claims" all they want. But only regulated drugs can make specific health claims.

A functional claim is something like a product is "heart healthy", "supports the immune system", "may help regulate your digestive tract", "contains fiber that supports a healthy body", etc. In other words, semi-meaningless babble that vaguely implies the product can help maintain your normal healthy state in some way.

If they want to say anything like the product "cures heart disease", "reduces the risk of cancer", "treats acid reflux", etc., then the FDA says it must be a drug and regulated like other drugs (basically, the FDA has to check and make sure it's safe and it does what it's supposed to do.)

I think the logic is pretty sound. Cheerios shouldn't be making specific claims that it will cure/prevent some disease. It can say it's good for you or that fiber helps regulate your digestion or whatever -- that is vague enough that people can read it and think "okay, so Cheerios is good for me in some way". But if it says Cheerios "lowers your cholesterol" or "decreases heart disease risk", the danger is that people will see it as something that can actually treat their health problems and therefore they don't need to see a doctor or use actual medicine. Its also problematic b/c nobody has checked to ensure that General Mills isn't just full of crap, siting a nonexistant or crap study, or not really putting the active ingredient in their product. Nobody oversees general mills and other food companies to make sure they are really treating your disease they claim to be -- the government DOES oversee drug companies in this way for the protection of the public.

I know this case is kind of petty, but it makes sense (to me at least) that the FDA wants Cheerios to change its labeling.

 

[englishteacha]

Mmmmm....Cheerios. I hope they just have to make a packaging change, and that I won't need a prescription to eat them!

 

[luvmy3]

I think there is a distinction between "specific health claims" and "structure and function claims" according to the FDA. Basically, food and supplements are allowed to use "structure and function claims" all they want. But only regulated drugs can make specific health claims.

A functional claim is something like a product is "heart healthy", "supports the immune system", "may help regulate your digestive tract", "contains fiber that supports a healthy body", etc. In other words, semi-meaningless babble that vaguely implies the product can help maintain your normal healthy state in some way.

If they want to say anything like the product "cures heart disease", "reduces the risk of cancer", "treats acid reflux", etc., then the FDA says it must be a drug and regulated like other drugs (basically, the FDA has to check and make sure it's safe and it does what it's supposed to do.)

I think the logic is pretty sound. Cheerios shouldn't be making specific claims that it will cure/prevent some disease. It can say it's good for you or that fiber helps regulate your digestion or whatever -- that is vague enough that people can read it and think "okay, so Cheerios is good for me in some way". But if it says Cheerios "lowers your cholesterol" or "decreases heart disease risk", the danger is that people will see it as something that can actually treat their health problems and therefore they don't need to see a doctor or use actual medicine. Its also problematic b/c nobody has checked to ensure that General Mills isn't just full of crap, siting a nonexistant or crap study, or not really putting the active ingredient in their product. Nobody oversees general mills and other food companies to make sure they are really treating your disease they claim to be -- the government DOES oversee drug companies in this way for the protection of the public.

I know this case is kind of petty, but it makes sense (to me at least) that the FDA wants Cheerios to change its labeling.

Is there an actual claim on the box that says it cures high bad cholesterol? I haven't had plain cheerios in my house since my 5 year old was an infant.
I thought in the OP it says they just claim it can help reduce it, so why isn't that okay to put on there, especially if there is a known ingredient in the cheerios that does in fact reduce it.
I think that the FDA could put its money to good use elsewhere

 

[C.Ann]

Good grief! Oatmeal also does the same thing, so I guess that's a "drug" too..

However, I do think Honey Nut Cheerios are highly "addictive".. I ran out two nights ago and I swear I'm going through withdrawals.. Tried Rice Krispies instead and they're just not "cutting it"..

Yeah - maybe they are a "drug"..

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I think there is a distinction between "specific health claims" and "structure and function claims" according to the FDA. Basically, food and supplements are allowed to use "structure and function claims" all they want. But only regulated drugs can make specific health claims.

A functional claim is something like a product is "heart healthy", "supports the immune system", "may help regulate your digestive tract", "contains fiber that supports a healthy body", etc. In other words, semi-meaningless babble that vaguely implies the product can help maintain your normal healthy state in some way.

If they want to say anything like the product "cures heart disease", "reduces the risk of cancer", "treats acid reflux", etc., then the FDA says it must be a drug and regulated like other drugs (basically, the FDA has to check and make sure it's safe and it does what it's supposed to do.)

I think the logic is pretty sound. Cheerios shouldn't be making specific claims that it will cure/prevent some disease. It can say it's good for you or that fiber helps regulate your digestion or whatever -- that is vague enough that people can read it and think "okay, so Cheerios is good for me in some way". But if it says Cheerios "lowers your cholesterol" or "decreases heart disease risk", the danger is that people will see it as something that can actually treat their health problems and therefore they don't need to see a doctor or use actual medicine. Its also problematic b/c nobody has checked to ensure that General Mills isn't just full of crap, siting a nonexistant or crap study, or not really putting the active ingredient in their product. Nobody oversees general mills and other food companies to make sure they are really treating your disease they claim to be -- the government DOES oversee drug companies in this way for the protection of the public.

I know this case is kind of petty, but it makes sense (to me at least) that the FDA wants Cheerios to change its labeling.

Atually, I remember seeing oatmeal commercials saying the exact same things. I even have a package of Quaker oatmeal stating "lowers your cholesterol".

All in all, it has been proven that oats lowers your cholesterol levels. If that's the case and if Cheerios are being considered a drug, then anything made of oats or containing oats can also be considered a drug.

Also, Cheerios and General Mills has never stated to not see a doctor. They have never claimed to be doctors either.

 

[MosMom]

It is a boring drug. Now Captain Crunch...THERE is a drug!

 

[Planogirl]

You know, they complain if companies don't tell consumers enough about their product. However then they complain when they tell them that a product can help lower cholesterol. The word "help" is important IMO.

I agree with the person that said that the FDA must be bored lately.

 

[themarquis]

Atually, I remember seeing oatmeal commercials saying the exact same things. I even have a package of Quaker oatmeal stating "lowers your cholesterol".

All in all, it has been proven that oats lowers your cholesterol levels. If that's the case and if Cheerios are being considered a drug, then anything made of oats or containing oats can also be considered a drug.

Also, Cheerios and General Mills has never stated to not see a doctor. They have never claimed to be doctors either.

I did a quick search and it looks like there have been some FDA issues with Quaker oats packaging as well. You might be right that there are a lot of products that are labeled this way -- my point was just htat there is a pretty good argument as to why the FDA may see it as problematic.

Maybe there needs to be a new category of claims that are okay to make for certain foods. Like I agree, "lowering cholesterol" and that sort of thing seems pretty innocuous. But in the same category (at least according to how the FDA classifies it) are claims like "Quaker oats will cure your cancer!" or "Quaker oats will treat heart disease and prevent heart attacks" and the like (which I'm sure we'd agree is problematic and could actually be dangerous for people's health! )

And it's true that General Mills doesn't tell people not to go to the doctor, but I think we might still agree that if food products could make any kinds of false or exaggerated claims they wanted (or just make claims that no health experts ever evaluate for veracity, such as in the case of the General Mills/Quaker products), some people might be confused or misled to the point where they might not end up getting proper treatment (since Quaker oats can cure their cancer!!) People are pretty stupid about health related stuff.