Breakfast cereals up to one third sugar: new analysis shows. Health groups call for clear labelling

Australian cereal manufacturers are potentially misleading consumers by promoting healthy sounding statements on their packaging despite sugar making up more than 35% of the ingredients of some popular brands, a recent survey has revealed.

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) analysed the labels of 20 popular breakfast cereals and found that the majority of products carried healthy sounding claims such as a ‘source of fibre’, ‘69% wholegrain’ and ‘no artificial flavours’ – though some contained more than one third sugar.

Jane Martin, Executive Manager of the OPC, believes consumers deserve the right to a clearer picture about what they are eating and the Coalition is urging all cereal manufacturers to adopt Australia’s voluntary Health Star Rating labelling system,

Ms Martin says: “For example, many breakfast cereals contain high levels of sugar, but manufacturers use all sorts of creative phrases on their labels to give consumers the impression they’re a nutritious choice for breakfast. It’s as though they are prepared to tell consumers only half the story. 

“Many parents would be horrified to learn that for every three mouthfuls of Nutri-Grain, one is just sugar, while a small bowl contains twice as much sodium as a small packet of chips.

“The Health Star Rating System was introduced more than a year ago to help consumers compare the overall nutritional quality of products at a glance. The system helps consumers better understand a product’s overall health rating so they can make informed choices, but our research has revealed very few cereals, as yet, carry the star label,” Ms Martin says.

“Clearer labelling through such a system is a vital step in helping consumers make healthier choices in an environment where approximately 63% of Australian adults and 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese.

“Nutrition panels can also provide helpful information if people know what the information means. When it comes to sugar, for example, knowing foods containing over 15 grams of sugar per 100 grams are considered ‘high’ in sugar helps people decide whether that’s a product they want to eat.  Similarly for salt, a product with over 400mg of sodium per 100 grams is considered high in salt.

“Another thing for consumers to be aware of is that currently it is not possible to distinguish between ‘added sugars’ and sugars derived from natural sources, such as dried fruit. It would be great to see this disclosed by manufacturers.

“We commend those companies who have already incorporated the voluntary Star Rating System on their packaging including Sanitarium, Uncle Tobys. Coles and Woolworths,” said Ms Martin. 

Cereal offenders – What’s hiding in your cereal?

• Average sugar content of all 20 cereals analysed was 19.8g per 100g – that’s almost 20 per cent sugar. This equates to about 5 teaspoons of sugar.
• Cereals with front-of-pack nutrition content claims that also contain high levels of sugar include Kellogg’s Coco Pops (36.5g per 100g), Kellogg’s Nutri Grain, Kellogg’s Just Right (28.7g) and Uncle Toby’s Fruity Bites Wild Berry (24.8g). 
• The cereals with the most sugar were Kellogg’s Frosties (41.3g per 100g), Kellogg’s Froot Loops (38g) and Kellogg’s Coco Pops (36.5g) – all of which are heavily promoted to children.
• Top 5 cereal brands sold in supermarkets by value (according to Retail World, December 2014) are: Weetbix, Nutri-Grain, Uncle Toby’s Plus, Coco Pops, and Special K.

Survey Results: front-of-pack claims made by 10 popular children’s breakfast cereals:

Front-of-pack claims made by 10 popular breakfast cereals for adults:

About the survey
In February 2015, the OPC reviewed 20 popular breakfast cereals examining sugar, salt and health claims on the packaging.