Are Canadian Froot Loops healthier than those in the US? Comments from Prof. St茅phanie Chevalier
In , Donald Trump's Secretary of Health nominee, that Froot Loops sold in Canada have far less ingredients than their American counterparts.聽
La Presse聽reports that while Froot Loops in the two countries do not actually differ in the number of ingredients, Kellogg's does use artificial colours in its US cereals, while in Canada it opts for natural ones. Though artificial colours may have some consequences for people who are genetically predisposed to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or inflammatory bowel diseases,聽海角社区 School of Human Nutrition Associate Professor聽St茅phanie Chevalier says colouring agents aren't the main factor in the cereal's nutritional value.
"Frankly, the fact that the dyes are natural doesn't improve the nutritional quality of Froot Loops at all. It's not a good food in the first place," Prof. Chevalier told聽La Presse.聽
Like many ultra-processed foods, Froot Loops are made using an 鈥渆xtrusion process鈥� that transforms cereals into dough. This dough is then sweetened and baked. The first ingredient in Froot Loops is sugar, says Chevalier.
Consumption of ultra-processed foods increases the risk of obesity and metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
It's not clear whether this is linked to higher calorie consumption because these foods are digested quickly, or to a specific problem with the way ultra-processed foods are processed by the various organs of the human body, according to Chevalier.