Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into WK Kellogg Co. for potentially violating state consumer protection laws through its marketing practices.
The investigation centers on Kellogg’s promotion of cereals like Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and Rice Krispies as “healthy” despite containing petroleum-based artificial food colorings. According to Paxton’s office, these dyes have been linked to health issues, including hyperactivity, obesity, autoimmune disease, endocrine disorders and cancer.
Investigators claimed that while Kellogg’s pledged to remove artificial food dyes and the preservative BHT from its products, the company has allegedly only done so in Canadian and European markets, not in the United States.
Kellogg’s cereals contain artificial food colorings, such as blue, red, yellow, green and orange. Kellogg’s announced it would remove these artificial food dyes and the preservative BHT from its products. Still, despite removing these unhealthy ingredients in Canada and Europe, it has not done so in the United States, Texas investigators suggest.
“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,” Paxton claimed in a news statement. “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.”
Kellogg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to a USA Today article, Kellogg’s announced in 2015 that it would eliminate artificial colors and flavors from its products by 2018, citing consumer demand for natural ingredients.
According to Paxton, despite the pledge, many Kellogg’s cereals, including popular brands like Froot Loops and Apple Jacks, still contain artificial dyes and preservatives.
On Jan.15, 2025, the FDA withdrew the authorization for Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs, referencing evidence of cancer in laboratory animals. Manufacturers have until January 2027 for food products and January 2028 for drugs to reformulate their items.