Breakfast cereals "too high in sugar", says report

Cereals targeted at children are particularly high in sugar, a new report by Which? researchers says, adding that Lidl Crownfield Conflakes have as much salt as a packet of crisps.

POPULAR BREAKFAST CEREALS can be high in sugar – even those thought of as ‘healthy, consumer research company Which? has found.

Its latest report says that out of 50 breakfast cereals analysed, 32 were high in sugar.

The researchers looked at the nutritional information on the cereals, and found that Kellogg’s Frosties were the worst for sugar.

But while it may not surprise many that frosted flakes are high in sugar, the analysis also showed that some cereals seen as ‘healthy’ are also high in sugar.

These include Kellogg’s Special K and supermarket own-brand rice and wheat flakes, and Kellogg’s All-Bran Bran Flakes, which have 22g of sugar per 100g. That is as almost as much sugar as Weetabix Chocolatey Weetos.

Lidl Crownfield Conflakes, meanwhile, have as much salt as a packet of Walkers Ready Salted crisps.

Nestlé Shredded Wheat was the lowest for salt and sugar levels.

Which? said that cereals are labelled in an ‘inconsistent’ way, which can make it difficult to see which ones are the healthiest.

In 2011, France approved a tax on sugary soft drinks, in the hope of reducing obesity levels.

It was announced in September 2011 that the Irish Government is considering introducing a sugar tax to tackle the growing problems of obesity and diabetes.

The introduction of a sugar tax is one of a number of issues which is being considered, Health Minister Dr James Reilly confirmed.

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