General Mills doubles vitamin D in cereals following FDA ruling

By: Trademagazin editor Date: 2023. 07. 31. 09:32

General Mills announced it is doubling the amount of vitamin D to 20% of the recommended daily value in several of its most popular cereals. The first two products to feature the change are Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, while three other products will follow in the coming weeks, the company said.

The move comes after the FDA allowed for greater fortification of the nutrient earlier this year, when it decided 560 IU per 100 grams of vitamin D3 is now allowed in cereal products.

People naturally produce vitamin D with sunlight exposure, and can also get the nutrient through seafood, milk, and egg yolks, according to Healthline. Doctors recommend 20 micrograms per day. General Mills said the nutrient will boost the better-for-you benefits of its products, citing CDC data which found 96% of Americans do not reach the recommended amount of vitamin D.

It’s unclear whether cereal can truly become “healthy” without major ingredient reformulations. Based on the FDA’s new guidelines, a food product can only be classified as healthy if it hits a baseline amount of nutrients, and limits the amount of added sugar.

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