Kellogg's Froot Loops cereals are in danger of being recalled by the FDA for this reason
Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereals are some of the most popular in the United States, but food safety protesters are demanding the company change its recipe.
Dozens of protesters held a rally outside the Kellogg’s headquarters in Michigan to demand the removal of artificial food dyes from its breakfast cereals, including the highly popular Froot Loops.
The food activists said they had collected 400,000 signatures to demand the company remove artificial colors and chemical preservatives from their cereals. Kellogg’s had vowed almost 10 years ago to remove artificial ingredients from its products by 2018.
The demonstrators say evidence showed artificial food dyes may play a part in behavioral issues in children.
The company’s products still contain non-natural colors and preservatives in the United States, although those sold in other countries have changed to more natural formulations.
Kellogg’s says it made the promise to scrap artificial ingredients thinking consumers were looking for natural alternatives. However, it found that preferences vary depending on the market.
According to the company, the Canadian market is more receptive to cereal recipes using natural colors than in the U.S. The company also makes Froot Loops with natural colors for Australia and the United Kingdom.
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Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereals are in danger of being recalled by the FDA for this reason
However, a former Food and Drug Administration food safety expert has called Froot Loops the worst breakfast cereal in the country, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
The colorful loops are “heavily processed and contain high levels of added sugars, artificial dyes, and preservatives, which are linked to health concerns,” former FDA food chief Dr. Darin Detwiler told DailyMail.com.
The food expert said the most worrying aspect of the cereal is the Red 40 dye it uses, which is banned in several European countries.
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In the United States, California recently became the first state to ban six food dyes found in food served in public schools. Four of these dyes are used to make Froot Loops: Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6 and Blue Dye No. 1.
At the moment, the FDA says color additives are safe for consumption, but states it will continue to examine the effects of color additives on children’s behavior.
“The totality of scientific evidence indicates that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives, but some evidence suggests that certain children may be sensitive to them,” according to the health agency.