Outcry Over Kellog’s Removal of Key Vitamins and Minerals from Mexican Cereals
Node Smith, ND
Cereal food giant, Kellog has removed key vitamins and minerals from some of its cereals sold in Mexico. The following is a press release put out by the Changing Markets Foundation, regarding a letter sent to the food industry leader regarding this action.
Over the last five years, Kellog removed key vitamins and minerals from popular cereal brands sold in Mexico
Recently, the Changing Markets Foundation, SumOfUs, and Proyecto AliMente sent a letter to Kellogg’s CEO Steven Cahillane reacting to the company’s response to a new report which found that over the last five years, the food industry leader had removed key vitamins and minerals from popular cereal brands sold in Mexico.
Kellog’s response to request for more information
In response to requests for more information from reporters, Kellogg’s responded to the report saying:
“The cereals cited in the report are designed for a Latin America consumer and meet a broader set of regulatory and nutritional requirements across the region. We regularly make modifications to our portfolio to comply with these requirements and re-balance around evolving nutritional deficiencies and needs as communicated to us by regional health authorities and our consumers.”
In reaction to Kellogg’s response, the Changing Markets Foundation and their allies explained:
“We have seen your [Kellogg’s] response to our report in the media, however, we would like to emphasize that it does not stand up to scrutiny. You say that you have ‘re-balanced’ your portfolio around the “evolving nutritional deficiencies and needs” and claim to have added vitamin D, as this was identified as a nutrient lacking in Latin American diets. While it is true that in Mexico moderate deficiencies of vitamin D exist and therefore adding this vitamin is a step in the right direction, you fail to respond to other crucial points in our report and explain why you have reduced or removed nutrients (iron, folic acid, vitamin A and calcium) for which calcium remain high, especially amongst children…”
In late February, the organisations released a report, titled “Cereal offender: is Kellogg’s breaking its breakfast promises?”, which found that Kellogg’s removed key vitamins and minerals from some of its most popular cereal brands sold in Mexico.
Micronutrient deficiencies already a major health problem in Mexico
Micronutrient deficiencies are a major health problem in Mexico. According to the Mexican national health survey, one-in-four children under five suffer from anemia (an iron deficiency). Up to a quarter of Mexican children do not get enough folic acid and vitamin A through their diet, while half do not get enough iron and calcium.
Kellogg’s is a market leader in Mexico
Kellogg’s is a market leader in Mexico and four out of the five top breakfast cereal brands that Mexican parents buy for their children are made by Kellogg’s. According to a 2013 government study, 50% of children aged 3-12 eat breakfast cereals at least 2-3 times a week, while 37% eat them every day.
The ‘Cereal Offenders’ report findings
The ‘Cereal Offenders’ report finds that in the last five years, Kellogg’s cereals have become significantly poorer in terms of minerals and vitamins. Analysis of the five most popular Kellogg’s breakfast cereals showed that over two-thirds of all micronutrients across all five cereals had been reduced or removed when compared to 2013 levels. Several types of B vitamins, as well as vitamins C and E, have been significantly reduced or entirely removed.
More specifically, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes (known as Zucaritas in Mexico) had folic acid levels reduced by 70% over the last five years, and Kellogg’s Corn Flakes halved iron levels, while calcium fortification was removed entirely from both of these popular cereals. A number of other cereals saw significant decreases in iron and calcium, despite the fact that iron and calcium deficiencies are high among Mexican children aged 5-12 years.
‘Cereal Offender’ highlights Kellog’s lacking credibility of ‘tackling the global challenges of food security including undernutrition, hidden hunger, and obesity in middle – and low-income communities across the globe’
‘Cereal Offender’ also highlights the lack of credibility behind Kellogg’s supposed commitment of ‘tackling the global challenges of food security including undernutrition, hidden hunger, and obesity in middle – and low-income communities across the globe’ by delivering ‘healthy foods for people of all income levels in every country’. The company has made other claims that they have addressed ‘nutrition shortfalls’ and ‘improved Latin American cereals with the right amounts of Vitamins A, B and D, iron, calcium, folic acid and antioxidants.’’ Changing Markets’ report finds these statements to be both misleading and false.
Petition from SumOfUs
More than 15,000 people have also signed onto a petition from SumOfUs demanding that Kellogg’s put kids over profits and immediately fortify all cereal products available for sale in Mexico with the appropriate amount of essential nutrients.
VIEW THE PETITION HERE:
READ THE REPORT HERE:
VIEW THE FULL LETTER HERE:
Node Smith, ND, is a naturopathic physician in Humboldt, Saskatchewan and associate editor and continuing education director for NDNR. His mission is serving relationships that support the process of transformation, and that ultimately lead to healthier people, businesses and communities. His primary therapeutic tools include counselling, homeopathy, diet and the use of cold water combined with exercise. Node considers health to be a reflection of the relationships a person or a business has with themselves, with God and with those around them. In order to cure disease and to heal, these relationships must be specifically considered. Node has worked intimately with many groups and organizations within the naturopathic profession, and helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic Revitalization (ANR), which works to promote and facilitate experiential education in vitalism.
Node Smith graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in 2017, and is currently licensed as a naturopathic physician in Oregon and working towards becoming licensed in Saskatchewan, Canada as well.
