In a major reversal for the food giant, WK Kellogg is under fire for falsely claiming and advertising its cereals as “healthy” food options for American families.
Beloved breakfast brands like Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, and Apple Jacks contain artificial dyes linked to serious health issues that have already been removed from the same products in Europe and Canada.
American children are being fed colorful cereals filled with petroleum-based chemicals while corporate executives knowingly market them as nutritious options.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the probe into the cereal giant’s marketing practices.
The investigation focuses on petroleum-based artificial food colorings like Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and Yellow 6.
These dyes have been linked to numerous health problems, including hyperactivity, obesity, autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, and even cancer.
Paxton stated:
“A critical part of fighting for our children’s future is putting an end to companies’ deceptive practices that are aimed at misleading parents and families about the health of food products. Artificial food colourings have been shown to have disastrous impacts on health, and in no world should foods that include these dyes be advertised as ‘healthy.'”
WK Kellogg, which was spun off from the Kellogg Company in 2023, has continued using artificial dyes in American products despite previously committing to remove them by 2018.
Meanwhile, the company has already eliminated these questionable ingredients from the exact same cereals sold in European and Canadian markets, where regulations are stricter.
The investigation comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently met with major food manufacturers and urged them to phase out artificial dyes by 2028.
Kennedy has directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise safety rules and eliminate loopholes that allow companies to declare food ingredients safe without proper oversight.
Kennedy declared:
“For far too long, ingredient manufacturers and sponsors have exploited a loophole that has allowed new ingredients and chemicals, often with unknown safety data, to be introduced into the US food supply without notification to the FDA or the public.”
The FDA has finally announced plans to ban Red 3 food coloring, known as erythrosine, which is used in various food products and medications.
However, many other questionable dyes remain approved despite growing evidence of their harmful effects.
Some states have taken matters into their own hands, with California banning products like Froot Loops in schools due to these additives.
Consumer protection groups have long criticized the continued use of artificial dyes in American food products while the same companies provide safer alternatives overseas.
The Texas investigation represents a significant step toward holding food corporations accountable for misleading health claims that endanger American families.
Paxton’s investigation is part of broader efforts to protect American consumers from deceptive corporate practices that prioritize profits over public health.
With growing awareness about the dangers of artificial food additives, more states may follow Texas’s lead in demanding accountability from food manufacturers who market potentially harmful products to families.
