Cereal brand gets serious slap on health claims

Post Consumer Brands has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed its so-called healthy cereals contain bunches of sugar.

 

The cereal company will pay $15 million to settle the 2016 suit that alleged it misled consumers by using nutrition claims to market its cereals, household names that include Post Selects, Great Grains, Honey Bunches of Oats, Shredded Wheat and Good Morenings, FoodBusinessNews reported Friday.

 

Lakeville, Minnesota-based Post has also agreed to stop using terms such as “no high-fructose corn syrup,” “less processed,” “wholesome,” “smart” and “nutritious” on its ready-to-eat cereal products where 10% or more of the calories come from sugar, according to the news site.

 

A federal judge in the Northern District of California has already granted preliminary approval for the agreement and a final hearing is scheduled for June 2021.