I'm fairly pro-consumer, but I just can't get behind the latest lawsuit against low-sugar cereal makers. I thought the complaint in the McDonald's obesity lawsuit was quite clever, but I don't see that cleverness here. Several months ago, the big cereal companies introduced "low sugar" versions of popular kids' cereals, such as Cocoa Puffs, Froot Loops, and Frosted Flakes. A few weeks ago, the media was reporting that low sugar cereals had no nutritional advantage over the full sugar version. So, within days, we have a lawsuit.
The plaintiffs argue that the "low sugar" claim, which was printed in large letters and prominently placed above the name of the cereal on the box, was misleading. However, by law these cereals have "Nutrition Facts" printed on the box. If consumers had looked at the Nutrition Facts, they would have seen that the calorie count was the same and the total carb count was the same. The cereal makers didn't substitute protein for sugar or fiber for sugar, just other refined carbs. Surely if you are that interested in buying low sugar products, you're savvy enough to read the Nutrition Facts.
BTW -- my kids eat Count Chocula, full sugar.
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