The War On Froot Loops
The road ahead for food manufacturer Kellogg may have just gotten rockier.
The maker of Froot Loops has faced criticism for using artificial food dyes that some say cause health problems in children. Now-incoming HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of processed foods, argues that companies opt for artificial dyes because they’re cheaper than natural alternatives, despite potential health risks, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Kellogg maintains that the colors used in its cereals are considered safe by scientific bodies worldwide. And therein lies, as WSJ puts it, “how Froot Loops landed at the center of U.S. food politics”.
Because now President-elect Trump has given Kennedy a platform to tackle chronic disease by targeting harmful chemicals in food. Kennedy often criticizes companies for using artificial dyes, which he says are cheaper but problematic for health.
These dyes, found in products like Froot Loops and M&M’s, enhance appearance but are restricted in some countries. While some U.S. brands offer dye-free versions abroad, efforts to replace dyes domestically have met resistance from consumers favoring the original look and taste.
The Wall Street Journal reported that critics argue Kennedy’s stance lacks scientific backing, while consumer advocates support his push to ban synthetic dyes, especially in foods marketed to children.
Artificial dyes are pervasive in U.S. grocery stores but restricted in some countries, where companies like Kellogg already offer dye-free versions. Efforts to eliminate dyes in the U.S. have faced resistance from consumers preferring the appearance and taste of artificially colored foods.
California’s recent bans on certain food additives, including artificial dyes, have intensified pressure on food manufacturers like Kellogg, Mars, and General Mills. While Kellogg maintains its dyes meet global safety standards, critics accuse it of prioritizing profits over health by marketing “inferior” U.S. products.
Activists like Vani Hari and Jason Karp have urged Kellogg to ditch dyes entirely, organizing protests and delivering petitions to its headquarters, highlighting the stark difference between U.S. and international offerings.
Many companies, including Mars and General Mills, attempted to phase out dyes in the past but reversed course due to consumer backlash over taste and appearance. California’s laws, however, are forcing companies to revisit the issue.
As the food industry navigates evolving regulations and Kennedy’s potential influence, manufacturers appear hesitant to make major changes until clearer federal policies emerge under the new administration.
“They get brighter colors in Froot Loops, but it’s literally poisoning our kids,” Kennedy is quoted as saying on Fox News earlier this year.
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GUNS N GEAR
My oldest was diagnosed w/ ADD/ADHD when he was in elementary school. We were strongly opposed to drugging him w/ speed (though ultimately he did take it, at his pleasure, for a year, and then out-grew and learned to cope w/ the issues). Our Pediatrician suggested we look into the Feingold diet, which is a very restrictive method to eliminate specific food allergies. All artificial food dyes are banned, which makes it extremely difficult to buy anything at the store you don’t make yourself. UItimatley we could not keep up w/ the diet, however it definitely had an affect on all of us (we switched as a household).
I can still recall how drinking a red gatorade after a few weeks on the diet made me feel confused. It’s subtle, you don’t notice it when it’s the ‘norm’, and took weeks of restrictive dieting to get ‘clean’, but man, you felt it when you became dirty. It was exactly like the cloud that hangs in your brain for a few hours after getting stoned…. from a red gatorade.
Most synthetic food dyes are made from coal oil. They squeeze coal until a liquid comes out, mix that w/ some other shit you can’t pronounce, then put it in the ketchup to make it more red (seriously, read the label RD&C Red No. 40 added for color).
If you are able to (and I tried and we could not keep up w/ it), look into and try the Feingold diet. Much information is freely published, you don’t have to pay anyone anything. But I can tell you absolutely there’s something to it. I encourage RFK Jr. to go after this stuff and get it out of our food chain entirely. Most synthetic food dies are banned in Europe, you’ll hear lots about that in the near future. There are natural options available, they’re a little more expensive is all. Big food companies are knowingly poisoning the population in the name of profits. When they are forced to remove them, they’ll market it to us at a higher price claiming they did it for our benefit.
Gawd, the lying is just so over the top…