Protesters demand Kellogg remove artificial colors from cereals

Dozens of individuals rallied outdoors the Michigan headquarters of WK Kellogg Co. Tuesday, demanding that the corporate take away synthetic dyes from its breakfast cereals within the U.S.

Kellogg, the maker of Froot Loops and Apple Jacks, introduced practically a decade in the past that it will take away synthetic colours and substances from its merchandise by 2018.

The corporate has completed that in different nations. In Canada, for instance, Froot Loops are coloured with concentrated carrot juice, watermelon juice and blueberry juice. However within the U.S., the cereal nonetheless comprises synthetic colours and BHT, a chemical preservative.

On Tuesday, activists mentioned they have been delivering petitions with greater than 400,000 signatures asking WK Kellogg to take away synthetic dyes and BHT from their cereals. Protesters mentioned there was proof that synthetic dyes can contribute to behavioral points in kids.

“I’m right here for all of the moms who wrestle to feed their children wholesome meals with out added chemical compounds,” mentioned Vani Hari, a meals activist who beforehand pressured Kraft Heinz to take away synthetic dyes from its macaroni and cheese.

The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration says it has reviewed and evaluated the consequences of shade components on kids’s habits however believes that almost all kids don’t have any opposed results when consuming them.

Battle Creek, Michigan-based WK Kellogg turned a separate firm final yr when its snack division was spun off to kind Kellanova. Kellanova saved the corporate’s worldwide cereal enterprise; it now makes Froot Loops with pure dyes for markets like Australia and the UK.

WK Kellogg mentioned Tuesday that its meals are protected and all of its substances adjust to federal laws.

“As we speak, greater than 85% of our cereal gross sales include no colours from synthetic sources,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement. “We repeatedly innovate new cereals that don’t include colours from synthetic sources throughout our largest manufacturers, providing a broad selection of nourishing meals for our shoppers.”

Kellogg mentioned it introduced its plan to take away synthetic colours and substances nearly a decade in the past as a result of it believed prospects have been searching for meals with pure substances and would welcome the change. However the firm mentioned it discovered that shopper preferences differed extensively throughout markets.

“For instance, there’s higher reception to our cereal recipes that make the most of natural-color options throughout the Canadian market than within the U.S.,” the corporate mentioned.

Nonetheless, Kellogg could must rethink. Final month, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California signed a invoice banning six meals dyes from meals served within the state’s public faculties, making it the primary state within the U.S. to take such a step.

California’s regulation bans 4 of the dyes now utilized in Froot Loops: Purple Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6 and Blue Dye No. 1.