Big G Whole Grains Hit 50 Cereals
General Mills has reached a multiyear reformulation milestone across its portfolio of Big G cereals, with more than 50 cereals with the white check.
Every cereal sporting the white check has more whole grain than any other single ingredient, including Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Total and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
The Dietary Guidelines recommend that half the grain included in the diet come from whole grain (at least 48 grams recommended daily). To help people keep track of their intake, the cereals with the white check also now highlight the grams of whole grain per serving on the side of the box, and grams of sugar from all sources are listed on the front of the box and in the Nutrition Facts panel.
“Whole grain makes a vital contribution to good health, and we know Americans value it in their cereals,” said Jeff Harmening, president of General Mills’ Big G cereal division. “As a company, we always strive to improve the health and nutrition of our products while never compromising taste. That’s why we’re proud to announce that, no matter which of our more than 50 cereals people choose, they can be assured they’re getting more whole grain than any other single ingredient, with the same great taste their family loves.”
Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of “The Doctors,” has partnered with General Mills to help with whole grain education, including introducing “Fast Lane for Whole Grain,” an online educational game. Consumers are challenged to quickly identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient while shopping virtual grocery store aisles. Players have the option to enter a sweepstakes through March 18 to win one of each of the more than 50 cereals with the white check.
“We’re committed to making it easier to choose whole grain,” said Jean Storlie, director of the General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. “Whole grain is a powerful nutrient package that has vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber that are important to our diets – and too few of us are getting enough of it.”
Minneapolis-based General Mills markets brands including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Yoplait, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Progresso and Old El Paso.