ACTION ALERT
Tell General Mills: Stop Supporting Industry Groups That Twist the Facts on Added Sugar

There’s a new scientific consensus emerging: eating too much sugar leads to debilitating health problems like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Yet major food companies like General Mills continue to add—and hide—sugar in their products, even the ones they market as healthy. A Nature Valley bar, cup of Yoplait yogurt, and one bowl of FiberOne Protein cereal, together have more added sugar than the government advises we eat in an entire day!

General Mills sits on the board of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), an industry group that distorts sugar science and lobbies against sugar caps and added sugar labeling. General Mills and the GMA have sent letters to federal agencies attempting to cast doubt on legitimate science that links overconsumption of added sugar to major health problems plaguing Americans and have questioned the integrity of scientists who advise the government on dietary guidelines.

General Mills has the power to push GMA to stop attacking science and we, as consumers, have the power to make General Mills act. Tell General Mills: stop twisting the facts, attacking scientists, and putting our health at risk.

Companies like General Mills often use industry groups to lobby for policies that their customers would not support—policies that put corporate profits ahead of customers’ heath. And that’s where public safeguards are supposed to protect us. Any day now, we’re expecting the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to release recommendations calling for less sugar intake and added sugar labeling on foods we buy at the grocery store.

Don’t let industry groups undermine these important safeguards before they even come out! Let General Mills knows we’re watching—and we want to buy products from companies that project our health—not those that twist the facts and attack science. Send your letter to General Mills now.

Sincerely,

Danielle Fox
Outreach Coordinator
Center for Science and Democracy
Union of Concerned Scientists

P.S. How can we protect the role of science and public health in food policy decisions? We’ll be joining the Center for Science in the Public Interest for a TweetChat on how to stand up for healthy food policy—and we want to hear from you! Follow the #FoodDayChat hashtag on Twitter on February 25 at 2:00 p.m. EST to join the conversation.