RFK and froot loops

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Hatty Willmoth

By Hatty Willmoth

Food & Nutrition Reporter

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Robert F. Kennedy, the recently appointed health secretary for the United States, made a claim about Froot Loops cereal last week that has raised some eyebrows.

In an interview with NBC News on November 6, Kennedy said: "Why do we have Fruit Loops in this country that have 18 or 19 ingredients, and you go to Canada and it's got two or three?"

This was directly after criticizing food regulation agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for "not protecting our kids" from harmful ingredients in ultra-processed food.

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But the claim that U.S. Froot Loops contain 18 or 19 ingredients is false—as is the claim that Canadian versions of the colorful cereal contain just two or three ingredients.

In fact, both versions of Froot Loops contain 27 ingredients, including ingredients that would put the cereal firmly in the category of "ultra-processed," linked to obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

Lisa Moskovitz, registered dietitian and founder of NY Nutrition Group, told Newsweek: "I believe people consuming Froot Loops or giving it to their family are generally aware it's not the most nutritious choice.

"No matter what it's recommended to consume in moderation and not as an everyday breakfast staple."

However, the ingredients in the two versions of the cereal do differ. For instance, the food flavorings and colorings used by U.S. Froot Loops include red 40, yellow 5, blue 1 and yellow 6.

Meanwhile, Canadian Froot Loops are flavored with concentrated carrot juice, annatto turmeric, concentrated watermelon juice, concentrated blueberry juice, concentrated huito juice and stevia leaf extract.

Moskovitz said: "When comparing U.S. Froot Loops to other countries, like Canada, it's clear the U.S. falls short on protecting our consumers.

"Research shows additives like red 40 are safe in small quantities, but in larger quantities it can be linked to various health conditions, from behavioral problems to inflammatory gastrointestinal issues."

Dr. Federica Amati, head nutritionist at nutrition science company ZOE, told Newsweek: "Froot Loops are not healthy, whichever way you look at them. They are high in sugar, highly processed breakfast cereals.

"Eating them less frequently is the main piece of advice, regardless of whether you eat them in Canada or the U.S."

Red 40, otherwise known as Allura Red or E129, has been linked by some scientific studies to allergies, migraines, and certain mental disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

Yellow 5, otherwise known as tartrazine or E102, has also been linked to hyperactivity and ADHD in children, and has been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers in studies conducted on human cells.

RFK and froot loops

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The full list of ingredients in U.S. Froot Loops is:

The full list of ingredients in Canadian Froot Loops is:

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