Cereals Too High In Sugar

Toronto (ECN) - Childrens Breakfast cereals are too sweet, Consumer Reports warns, recommending to enrich the menu with fruit and dairy products.

The report had calculated the ratio of fats and sugars in the 30-calorie cereals and nine biscuits breakfast.

The average caloric intake of sugar for portions of 30 grams is 21% above that recommended level by the national health nutrition (12.5%).

The cereals which had more than 50% sugar by weight included Post Golden Crisp from Kraft Foods Inc, as well as Kellogg’s Honey Smacks.

Meanwhile, the study shows that the recommendations traditional manufacturers inviting children to eat breakfast between 30 and 40 grams of cereal, with 125 ml of semi-skimmed milk, are "very much below the current eating habits" .

Thus, the portion recommended by industry covers only 8% to 13% of calorie needs usually a child of 7 years, and only 6% to 10% of those aged 14, while the small breakfast must cover 20% to 25% of daily calorie needs.

"We wanted to know what the make-up was of cereals that were marketed to kids," said Gayle Williams, deputy health editor of Consumer Reports.

"We weren't surprised that we found sugar," said Williams. "I think we knew that was there, but I think we were surprised that we found so much sugar in so many cereals."

Children will also tend to increase the quantities of grain consumed, or just past include some sugar "particularly high".

The association stresses that it is not necessary to ban these products from cupboards."It recommends adding to the menu breakfast of yogurt, fruit, but also to alternate cereal with toast.

source:ecanadanow