Comments on: The FDA is going after health claims? At last! http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:44:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Daniel Ithaca, NY http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-21571 Daniel Ithaca, NY Thu, 28 May 2009 15:18:56 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-21571 Charles: "The FDA is claiming General Mills is making an "unauthorized health claim" on its website by saying, "Heart-healthy diets rich in whole grain foods, can reduce the risk of heart disease." Isn't this just a little bit ridiculous?" The problem isn't that a cereal is making such a health claim, it is that the cereal is mostly processed starch and sugar with SOME whole grains. Cheerios are not "whole grain" but they contain some whole grains. If you had a zinc bar and plated it with gold it doesn't become a gold bar anymore than this and other such cereals should be considered "whole grain". Yes Charles it is ridiculous that a highly processed food is allowed to advertise itself using the term Whole Grain. Truth in labeling! Charles:
“The FDA is claiming General Mills is making an “unauthorized
health claim” on its website by saying, “Heart-healthy diets rich in
whole grain foods, can reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Isn’t this just a little bit ridiculous?”

The problem isn’t that a cereal is making such a health claim, it is that the cereal is mostly processed starch and sugar with SOME whole grains. Cheerios are not “whole grain” but they contain some whole grains.
If you had a zinc bar and plated it with gold it doesn’t become a gold bar anymore than this and other such cereals should be considered “whole grain”.
Yes Charles it is ridiculous that a highly processed food is allowed to advertise itself using the term Whole Grain.
Truth in labeling!

]]> By: Charles http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20796 Charles Thu, 21 May 2009 02:11:26 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20796 Anthro, Kessler succeeded in banning l-tryptophan, an amino acid that is a mild seratonin reuptake inhibitor. Many people used it as an aid to quitting smoking before the ban. I used it in 1987, it took the edge off and was useful in helping me quit. Coincidentally, mere weeks after the ban pharmaceutical companies rolled out their quitting smoking kits - patches, nicotine gum, etc. Prozac, another seratonin reuptake inhibitor, debuted not long after the ban. I do not trust this guy. We have the right to self medicate in this country. I take 5-HTP, (re-legalized l-tryptophan in a different form) Ginkgo, and Ginseng regularly and feel good taking it. You may think I'm being duped. That's also a right. :) Anthro,
Kessler succeeded in banning l-tryptophan, an amino acid that is a mild seratonin reuptake inhibitor. Many people used it as an aid to quitting smoking before the ban. I used it in 1987, it took the edge off and was useful in helping me quit. Coincidentally, mere weeks after the ban pharmaceutical companies rolled out their quitting smoking kits – patches, nicotine gum, etc. Prozac, another seratonin reuptake inhibitor, debuted not long after the ban. I do not trust this guy.

We have the right to self medicate in this country. I take 5-HTP, (re-legalized l-tryptophan in a different form) Ginkgo, and Ginseng regularly and feel good taking it. You may think I’m being duped. That’s also a right. :)

]]> By: Daniel Ithaca, NY http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20742 Daniel Ithaca, NY Wed, 20 May 2009 05:17:15 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20742 A heart healthy diet would include more whole grains and LESS sugar (keep those triglycerides down!) Cheerios seems to have a large amount of "modified corn STARCH" as well as sugar with some whole grain. Why do so many consider this a healthy food? http://www.generalmills.com/stream_image.aspx?rid=27042 What's much worse is the Whole Grains label on boxes of Lucky Charms. Why isn't this considered fraudulent? A pile of sugar and starch with a sprinkle of whole grains = Whole Grains? Come on FDA! 12g SUGAR/ 27g Serving = 44.4% Sugar, Ingredients: Whole Grain Oats (Includes the Oat Bran), Marshmallow Bits (SUGAR, Modified Corn Starch, CORN SYRUP, DEXTROSE, Gelatin, Calcium Carbonate, Artificial Flavor, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 40, Blue 1, Methylcellulose, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, Corn Starch, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Color Added, Trisodium Phosphate, + various vit.s & min.s a less confusing list: >ingredients: Oats, SUGARS, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, CORN STARCH... Wow now I see that it has a lot of sugar! It is very confusing to list "marshmallow bits" as an ingredient. If a product isn't, let's say 90% whole grain, then WHY is it allowed to be sold with prominent Whole Grain advertising on the package? As always, avoid the 'more than 5 ingredient foods'. A heart healthy diet would include more whole grains and LESS sugar (keep those triglycerides down!)

Cheerios seems to have a large amount of “modified corn STARCH” as well as sugar with some whole grain. Why do so many consider this a healthy food?
http://www.generalmills.com/stream_image.aspx?rid=27042

What’s much worse is the Whole Grains label on boxes of Lucky Charms. Why isn’t this considered fraudulent?
A pile of sugar and starch with a sprinkle of whole grains = Whole Grains? Come on FDA!
12g SUGAR/ 27g Serving = 44.4% Sugar,
Ingredients:
Whole Grain Oats (Includes the Oat Bran), Marshmallow Bits (SUGAR, Modified Corn Starch, CORN SYRUP, DEXTROSE, Gelatin, Calcium Carbonate, Artificial Flavor, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 40, Blue 1, Methylcellulose, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, Corn Starch, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Color Added, Trisodium Phosphate, + various vit.s & min.s

a less confusing list:
>ingredients: Oats, SUGARS, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, CORN STARCH…
Wow now I see that it has a lot of sugar!
It is very confusing to list “marshmallow bits” as an ingredient.
If a product isn’t, let’s say 90% whole grain, then WHY is it allowed to be sold with prominent Whole Grain advertising on the package?
As always, avoid the ‘more than 5 ingredient foods’.

]]> By: Anthro http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20665 Anthro Tue, 19 May 2009 20:17:07 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20665 I noticed this as well, but really, they are not "going after them" in the sense that they are banning Cheerios, they just don't want the false claims on the packaging. People so often jump to conclusions. I noticed this as well, but really, they are not “going after them” in the sense that they are banning Cheerios, they just don’t want the false claims on the packaging. People so often jump to conclusions.

]]> By: Will We Say Cheerio To Cheerios Health Claims? | Food Bubbles http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20492 Will We Say Cheerio To Cheerios Health Claims? | Food Bubbles Mon, 18 May 2009 23:09:53 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20492 [...] on related blog posts say that going after the childhood icon (first finger snack of many) will make the FDA look like a [...] [...] on related blog posts say that going after the childhood icon (first finger snack of many) will make the FDA look like a [...]

]]> By: Anthro http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20469 Anthro Mon, 18 May 2009 20:48:04 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20469 Charles, you are on the wrong blog! Kessler is a hero and what has happened to the FDA since he left is a travesty for science-based policy. Please read Professor Nestle's book "Food Politics". Vitamins and supplements should be regulated and tested. They should not be able to make ANY claims that are not clearly scientifically established. There is no credible scientific support for the routine use of vitamins and other supplements. I think most people who follow Dr. Nestle's work are very pleased that the FDA is showing a glimmer of its former self with the Cherrios decision. Charles, you are on the wrong blog! Kessler is a hero and what has happened to the FDA since he left is a travesty for science-based policy. Please read Professor Nestle’s book “Food Politics”.

Vitamins and supplements should be regulated and tested. They should not be able to make ANY claims that are not clearly scientifically established. There is no credible scientific support for the routine use of vitamins and other supplements.

I think most people who follow Dr. Nestle’s work are very pleased that the FDA is showing a glimmer of its former self with the Cherrios decision.

]]> By: Healthy Monday: Prophet, apologist, prankster – Michael Pollan goes meatless | Sustainable Table http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20445 Healthy Monday: Prophet, apologist, prankster – Michael Pollan goes meatless | Sustainable Table Mon, 18 May 2009 17:43:32 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20445 [...] by 4% in six weeks.” Even if this were true - Marion Nestle points out that would necessitate a diet almost solely of Cheerios - the FDA stipulates that a food product can’t declare that it’s lowering cholesterol [...] [...] by 4% in six weeks.” Even if this were true – Marion Nestle points out that would necessitate a diet almost solely of Cheerios – the FDA stipulates that a food product can’t declare that it’s lowering cholesterol [...]

]]> By: Healthy Monday: Prophet, apologist, prankster – Michael Pollan goes meatless http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20440 Healthy Monday: Prophet, apologist, prankster – Michael Pollan goes meatless Mon, 18 May 2009 16:10:58 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20440 [...] 4% in six weeks.” Even if this were true – Marion Nestle points out that would necessitate a diet almost solely of Cheerios – the FDA stipulates that a food product can’t declare that it’s lowering cholesterol [...] [...] 4% in six weeks.” Even if this were true – Marion Nestle points out that would necessitate a diet almost solely of Cheerios – the FDA stipulates that a food product can’t declare that it’s lowering cholesterol [...]

]]> By: For The Love of Food | Summer Tomato http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-20037 For The Love of Food | Summer Tomato Fri, 15 May 2009 18:00:54 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-20037 [...] The FDA is going after health claims? At last! <<Turns out Cheerios (fake whole grains) are not as effective as statins at reducing cholesterol, and the FDA is not happy about them pretending to be. Woohoo! Another gem from Marion Nestle (@marionnestle). [...] [...] The FDA is going after health claims? At last! <<Turns out Cheerios (fake whole grains) are not as effective as statins at reducing cholesterol, and the FDA is not happy about them pretending to be. Woohoo! Another gem from Marion Nestle (@marionnestle). [...]

]]> By: Charles http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/05/the-fda-is-going-after-health-claims-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-19881 Charles Fri, 15 May 2009 00:28:36 +0000 http://www.foodpolitics.com/?p=1361#comment-19881 I hope no one ever says "an apple a a day keeps the doctor away" in the presence of an FDA enforcer. :) I know Cheerios is junk, most cereal is - and informed people know that. But I do not want to relive the nightmare that was David Kessler. Remember him? He tried to ban a number of herbs and vitamins. http://reason.com/news/show/29410.html I hope no one ever says “an apple a a day keeps the doctor away” in the presence of an FDA enforcer. :)

I know Cheerios is junk, most cereal is – and informed people know that. But I do not want to relive the nightmare that was David Kessler. Remember him? He tried to ban a number of herbs and vitamins.

http://reason.com/news/show/29410.html

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