The FDA sent a warning letter to General Mills, the makers of Cheerios, saying that language on the cereal box is in violation of federal law.
The Food and Drug Administration is objecting to claims that Cheerios can lower cholesterol and treat heart disease. Only FDA-approved drugs are allowed to make those claims.
A spokesman for General Mills said the Cheerios box’s message saying the cereal can “lower your cholesterol 4% in six weeks” has been used for more than two years, and statements on the box about heart health have been permitted by the FDA for 12 years.
The FDA said such claims can only be made for drugs, and it suggested that if General Mills wants to keep the box labeling as is, it should file a new-drug application for Cheerios.
The FDA isn’t the only Washington agency in the Obama administration taking a close look at food makers’ health claims. Last month the Federal Trade Commission settled a complaint with Kellogg Co. involving claims that its Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal was clinically shown to improve children’s attentiveness by nearly 20%.