Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into WK Kellogg Co., commonly known as Kellogg’s, for potential violations of Texas consumer protection laws. The focus of this investigation is on the company's advertising and sale of cereals such as Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and Rice Krispies.
Allegations have surfaced regarding Kellogg’s marketing of these products as "healthy," a claim contested by the presence of petroleum-based artificial food colorings within these cereals. These artificial dyes have been associated with health concerns, including hyperactivity, obesity, autoimmune diseases, endocrine-related health issues, and cancer.
Kellogg’s cereals reportedly contain a variety of artificial food colorings, including blue, red, yellow, green, and orange dyes. The company had previously committed to eliminating these artificial food dyes and the preservative BHT from its products. While these ingredients have been removed in Canada and Europe, this change has not been implemented in the United States.
Attorney General Paxton expressed his concerns, stating, "A critical part of fighting for our children’s future is putting an end to companies’ deceptive practices that are aimed at misleading parents and families about the health of food products." He further emphasized the health risks, noting, "Artificial food colorings have been shown to have disastrous impacts on health, and in no world should foods that include these dyes be advertised as ‘healthy.’ There will be accountability for any company, including Kellogg’s, that unlawfully makes misrepresentations about its food and contributes to a broken health system that has made Americans less healthy."