Corporate Crimes In the Cereal Aisle: How Companies Are Fooling You Into Thinking Their Products Are

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.alternet.org/story/152878/corporate_crimes_in_the_cereal_aisle:_how_companies_are_fooling_you_into_thinking_their_products_are_healthy?akid=7792.287048.hZ5r6V&rd=1&t=5


A trip to the supermarket is an adventure into a tempting and treacherous jungle. The insatiable hunger for a ready-made breakfast that nourishes our bodies and our social conscience has made our morning bowls of cereal a hiding place for corporate charlatans. A new report, Cereal Crimes, by the Cornucopia Institute discloses the toxic truth about “natural” products and unmasks corporate faces like Kellogg’s hiding behind supposedly “family-run” businesses such as Kashi.

When these breakfast barons forage for profit, we eaters are the prey. But what are the laws of this jungle? And how do we avoid being ripped off by products that are hazardous for our health and our environment? Let’s have a look at some of these corporations’ sneaky strategies.

First, there is intentional confusion. With so many different kinds of cereal lining the shelves, figuring out which is the best requires detective work. Many make claims about health, boasting “no trans fats,” “gluten-free,” and “a boost of omega three.” Others play to environmental concerns declaring “earthy harmony,” “nature in balance,” and “sustainable soils.” With the legion of labels, separating wheat from chaff seems impossible, but the report offers one rule of thumb: Don’t confuse organic with “natural.”

Organics, certified and recognizable by the green USDA label, are required by federal law to be produced without toxic inputs and genetically engineered ingredients. “Natural,” on the other hand, is defined by the producers themselves to mislead shoppers and protect shareholders. Cornucopia’s report found that, “When determining their ‘natural’ standards, companies will consider their profitability. Environmental concerns are unlikely to weigh heavily, if at all, in this profitability equation.”

More at the link --

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Even innocuous, plain corn flakes are not natural.

I wrote to Kellogg's, asking about their use of GM corn and their reply was something to the effect that they couldn't divulge "trade secrets", which I can extrapolate as "Yes, we certainly use some GM corn".

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Kelloggs cereals are soaked in HFCS as well

Their products are slightly more palatable than the boxes they come in....

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. I'm sure they aren't perfect, but there are some good cereals at Trader Joes -

we focus on sugar and salt content - it is remarkable how much some cereal (like Kellogg's Raisin Bran) is loaded with unnecessary salt. We like some of the Kashi cereals too - like their version of shredded wheat, and grape nuts. Sure, a bit bland - but we put some of our home made granola on it and it becomes quite yummy.

Our grocery store trips tend to be limited to around the edges - produce, dairy - and come to think of it, little else! (I guess we aren't helping with this spending your way out of the recession problem very much!).

[SpiralHawk]

4. Sneaky freakin RepubliCorps deceiving honorable Americans and their children

Screw the kind of degenerate Republicon Family Values that leads them to occultly spike children's breakfast foods with chemicals and genetically mutant crap.

God Gawd. No frikkin honor whatsoever.

[Islandlife]

5. Presidential campaigns use similar marketing techniques

We don't know what we have elected until they are elected.

Marketing if so sophisticated that we sometimes don't bother seeking the truth.

[Donnachaidh]

8. my irony meter just went off

*seek the truth* from a non-existant profile? hmmmmmm....

[Lorien]

6. The entire article title:

Corporate Crimes In the Cereal Aisle: How Companies Are Fooling You Into Thinking Their Products Are Healthy
Here's the tricks that big breakfast barons use to fool you into believing their products are pesticide and GMO-free.


(I personally can't eat any of that stuff; the HFCS gives me a hypoglycemic fit).

[SpiralHawk]

7. Yup - an increasingly common reaction

some suspect it's because the HFCS is made from genetically mutant corn...