By Dr. Barry Sears
For years the FDA has been cracking down on small supplement manufacturers because of drug-like claims. At the same time, it was letting the big boys get away with the same sleazy practices. But those times may be over. The FDA told General Mills that its advertising claim that Cheerios reduced cholesterol levels was actually a drug-like claim.
Just to reinforce the point, the FDA said that statements on the General Mills’ Web site about Cheerios reducing heart disease and cancer were equally drug-like claims. The FDA gave General Mills 15 days to correct the violations (including recalling all the outstanding Cheerios boxes in supermarkets).
Just like any dietary supplement marketer, General Mills stated that its scientific support (i.e. one study) was “very strong”. With this new backbone, maybe the FDA will challenge all the claims they have allowed in the past for other food giants and not just the mom-and-pop operations.