Kellogg\u2019s will permanently remove toxic dyes from its cereals, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.<\/b>
\nAfter months of investigation and negotiations, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday that WK Kellogg Co. \u201cKellogg\u2019s\u201d will permanently remove toxic dyes from its cereals.
In a historic legal agreement, Paxton and Kellogg\u2019s signed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC), which certifies that the company commits to removing artificial food colorings from its cereals by the end of 2027.
While other companies have verbally committed to removing food dyes, Kellogg\u2019s is the first to officially sign a legally binding agreement confirming that it will remove food colorings, according to Paxton\u2019s office.
\u201cFollowing months of investigating and negotiating, I\u2019m proud to officially say Kellogg\u2019s will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals,\u201d Paxton wrote in a statement.
\u201cThe signed AVC demonstrates that Kellogg\u2019s is committed to keeping this pledge, and I commend the company for doing the right thing.\u201d
Paxton encouraged other food manufacturers to sign similar agreements to \u201cdemonstrate their commitment to helping Americans live healthier lives.\u201d
In February, Paxton\u2019s office issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Kellogg\u2019s, and formally announced an investigation in April after the company claimed it would remove petroleum-based food colorings in the US, but allegedly did not do so.
Instead, Paxton\u2019s office claimed Kellogg\u2019s removed toxic ingredients in Canada and Europe, while continuing to put different types of blue, red and yellow dyes in American cereals.
Kellogg\u2019s markets popular cereals such as Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies as \u201chealthy,\u201d Paxton previously said.
However, he noted that some varieties contain petroleum-based artificial dyes linked to hyperactivity, obesity, autoimmune disorders, endocrine issues and cancer.
\u201cA critical part of fighting for our children\u2019s future is putting an end to companies\u2019 deceptive practices that are aimed at misleading parents and families about the health of food products,\u201d Paxton wrote in a statement. \u201cArtificial food colorings have been shown to have disastrous impacts on health, and in no world should foods that include these dyes be advertised as \u2018healthy.\u2019
\u201cThere will be accountability for any company, including Kellogg\u2019s, that unlawfully makes misrepresentations about its food and contributes to a broken health system that has made Americans less healthy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n