Experts Say "Reduced-Sugar" Cereals Not Nutritionally Sweet
Posted Dec 19 2008 12:13am
Hurray for the Associated Press for trying to ferret out the truth about the "reduced-sugar" versions of children's breakfast cereals as Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes. The AP asked nutrition scientists from five universities to rate the nutrition of six major brands of sweetened cereals that were promoted as lower in sugar.
The experts--which came from such established institutions as Harvard, Tufts and Penn State Universities--offered a verdict that might surprise many consumers. They have "no significant nutritional advantages over their full-sugar counterparts."
Nutrition scientists discovered that the new cereals do contain less sugar, but the calories, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and other nutrients are "almost identical to the full-sugar cereals," the AP reported. "That's because the cereal makers have replaced sugar with refined carbohydrates to preserve the crunch."
The experts--which came from such established institutions as Harvard, Tufts and Penn State Universities--offered a verdict that might surprise many consumers. They have "no significant nutritional advantages over their full-sugar counterparts."
Nutrition scientists discovered that the new cereals do contain less sugar, but the calories, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and other nutrients are "almost identical to the full-sugar cereals," the AP reported. "That's because the cereal makers have replaced sugar with refined carbohydrates to preserve the crunch."