Cheerios: Not Street Legal

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to the General Mills cereal, Cheerios. In this letter the FDA tells Cheerio's that the advertising labels, "Lower your Cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks." The FDA said Cheerios "is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease." That disease being high cholesterol.

This will merely slow down Cheerios but will not remove the toasted oats from your grocer's shelves. But should Cheerios be allowed to use this type of advertising? Should Clois du Bois write on their Merlot label, "A healthier heart with a glass a day"? Or can milk organizations promote the lowering of Osteoperosis with milk?

Advertising to health benefits is an interesting phenomenon that has only started recently. But it is starting to get out of control. Everyone is trying to pronmote "nutritious", "healthy", or "fresh" food. Is this something that we can control or not?