Kelloggs’ Chemical Problem

Earlier this month, I heard about a problem with chemical found in Fruit Loops. It’s not what you might think – the cereal did not have any of the chemical (petrochemical 2-methylnaphthalene) in it, but the packaging did and so, subsequently, the chemical leached in to the cereal.

You might think this would be the start of a rant about organic cereal, keeping kids away from such sugary cereals that they should be called junk food, and in general me getting on my soap box about healthy eating. It’s not. Yes, we should all eat healthfully, but then life happens and we throw whatever we can find in our mouths and the mouths of our children. Hey, it happens.

But, packaging…that’s a different story. It’s like the reports of BPA found in the lining of cans (and grocery receipts). Those are places we, as concerned mothers, don’t think to look until we hear otherwise. And if this chemical has been found in Kelloggs packaging, how long do you think it will take for it to be found in other cereal companies’ packages as well. This isn’t solely a Kellogg’s problem – it’s potentially an industry-wide issue and a big one at that.

To Kelloggs’ credit, they did a voluntary recall of certain boxes of Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, and Honey Smacks back on June 25th. Why is it that the least healthy cereals are impacted by this chemical issue? Who knows?

With this discovery that cereal packaging (the waxed paper that is heat-sealed) could be off-gassing chemicals into our food, I’m feeling a little bit unsure of what is out there. Yes, I can be as vigilant as I can be about what foods do and don’t cross my baby’s lips, but there is only so much I can do. It’s not like I can farm my own Fruit Loops, now is it?

Frustrating.