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general mills

Could America Be Facing a Sugar Shortage?
Politics

Could America Be Facing a Sugar Shortage?

If you've got a sweet tooth, you may be forced to reckon with a bitter truth.
by

If you've got a sweet tooth, you may be forced to reckon with a bitter truth. In a letter sent to US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, several of the country's largest food companies, including General Mills, Kraft, Hershey, and Mars, said the United States could "virtually run out of sugar" if the government doesn't let up on sugar import limits.

To keep prices within reason for domestic sugar farmers, the government only allows unlimited sugar imports from the Mexican market without paying tariffs. Global shortages of the commodity have led to a skyrocket in price, culminating in a 28-year high this week. Sugar purchased from other countries, such as Brazil, is limited by a quota. If those restrictions aren't eased, food manufacturers say they'd be forced to hike prices, slash jobs — and run out of sugar to make items such as cereal, cookies, and chocolate. However, the USDA appears to be taking this plea with a grain of sugar, claiming early this week that domestic supplies were increasing.

With opposing interests, it's hard to know what to think. Who do you believe — and would America be better off with less sugar?

FDA: Packaged Foods' Health Claims Make Them Drugs
Health

FDA: Packaged Foods' Health Claims Make Them Drugs

Could the breakfast staple, Cheerios, be classified as a drug?
by

Could the breakfast staple, Cheerios, be classified as a drug? That's what the Food and Drug Administration is claiming, based on the product's labeling that it's "clinically proven to help lower cholesterol." On May 5, the FDA sent a warning letter to General Mills, the maker of Cheerios, charging that the cereal's cholesterol-lowering health claims violate federal law. It stated:

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 because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease.

According to The Wall Street Journal, if General Mills wishes to keep the statements on the Cheerios box as is, the company has to file a new-drug application for the cereal. In a statement issued this morning, General Mills expressed that it will "look forward to discussing this with the FDA and to reaching a resolution."

While I agree that the FDA should be closely involved with health claims in consumer products, I can't help but wonder whether this is taking resources away from a larger problem in the FDA's hands: improving food safety in our country. Should packaged foods be able to make health claims, or does that render them drugs?

Source

Let's Dish: What Was Your Favorite Cereal as a Child?
Target

Let's Dish: What Was Your Favorite Cereal as a Child?

In a special ad campaign that gears towards a consumers need for comfort, General Mills has brought back its old cereal box designs.
by partysugar

In a special ad campaign that gears towards a consumers need for comfort, General Mills has brought back its old cereal box designs. Target shoppers may have noticed that Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, and Trix are sporting retro boxes taken directly from the company's archives.

The promotion has made me nostalgic and I can't help but think of the cereal I enjoyed as a child. While I consumed Cheerios on a regular basis, my absolute favorite was Lucky Charms. How about you reader? What cereal did you devour as a child? Do you still eat it today?

General Mills Releases Vintage Cereal Boxes and Vintage Tees
Vintage

Vintage Cereal Chic

I was at my local Target — I know, it seems like I go there an awful lot — when I noticed this display of vintage cereal boxes.
by

I was at my local Target — I know, it seems like I go there an awful lot — when I noticed this display of vintage cereal boxes. For a limited time, General Mills has released vintage-styled boxes of five of their top selling cereals. The promotion is part of their Vintage T-Shirt Offer. These vintage boxes of Golden Grahams, Kix, Lucky Charms, Honey Nut Cheerios, and Wheaties each contain a box code that will give you access to their specially priced vintage tees. The tees cost $5 each and you can order up to 5 of them each day.

And if you can't find the vintage boxes, don't worry you can still get your hands on vintage shirts. Just use the boxcode "retrotee" and you'll be able to get in.

Totino's/Jeno's Frozen Pizza Recall!
pepperoni

Totino's/Jeno's Frozen Pizza Recall!

I've been laying off doing a post on every single product recall, but when I saw that there was a frozen pizza recall, I figured I should let you guys know, because I know how popular these pizzas are.
by

I've been laying off doing a post on every single product recall, but when I saw that there was a frozen pizza recall, I figured I should let you guys know, because I know how popular these pizzas are. (I, for one, lived off them in college.)

General Mills announced today that it has recalled about 5 million frozen pizzas sold nationwide under the Totino's and Jeno's labels because of possible E. coli contamination. The voluntary recall covers pizzas containing pepperoni that have been produced since July.

The company asks consumers to throw away recalled pizzas. You can get replacements by clipping the bar code from the box and mailing it with your name and address to Totino's/Jeno's, P.O. Box 200 _ Pizza, Minneapolis, MN 55440-0200.

Let me also take this opportunity to let you know that six Totino's Pepperoni Pizza Rolls have a whopping 210 calories, 2.5 grams saturated fat, 1.5 grams trans fat, and 480 mg of sodium. Half of the Totino's Pepperoni Party Pizza (you know you can eat half easily) has 360 calories, 5 grams saturated fat, 4 grams trans fat, and 870 mg sodium. My suggestion? Throw them all away and never look back. If you're not ready to totally give up frozen pizza, then check out Kashi frozen pizza for a healthier alternative.