Irish breakfast cereals high

The Consumer’s Association of Ireland found the quantities of sugar contained in nine breakfast cereals to be unacceptable

Global comparative study finds levels of sugar in children's breakfast cereal to be "unacceptably high"

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A report looking at nine children’s breakfast cereals, published on 29 September by the Consumer’s Association of Ireland, found the quantities of sugar contained in them to be “unacceptably high”.

Kellogg’s Frosties was deemed to be the worst offender, containing 40% sugar, followed closely by Nestlé’s Golden Nuggets with 38.7%. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies contained the lowest amount of sugar at 13%, although this is still considered high by the CAI, according to the definition of a high sugar level as anything over 12.5g of sugar per 100g.

All cereals bar one was deemed to have an acceptable level for the sodium. Again Rice Krispies came out the healthier option but just barely, said the CAI, with borderline high levels of sodium (0.7%), as compared with acceptable levels, which lie between 0.12g and 0.6g of sodium per 100g.

The analysis was carried out as part of a global study involving consumer organisations from 31 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and the Pacific. Jenny Harrow, Consumer Choice researcher, commented: “Manufacturers make claims about wholegrain goodness and the vitamins and minerals that are contained in their cereals. We do not dispute this. What we don’t agree with are the globally and locally high levels of sugar also contained in these cereals, and the manner in which these unhealthy foods are marketed to children.”

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