What’s Really in That Bowl of Cereal? Spoiler: It’s Not Looking Great

I’ve always thought of cereal as a quick, comforting option—but this new study made me raise my eyebrows. Adult onset diabetes is now called type two diabetes because we are seeing it in younger people, associated with an increase in childhood obesity. Cereal, an easy if nutritionally variable food, has changed.

The May 2025 study by Zhao, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed kids’ cereal product launches from 2010 to 2023 using data from the Mintel Global New Products Database. Over that time, researchers found a 33% increase in fat and 32% increase in sodium, while protein and fiber content dropped. The authors warn that this shift reflects a troubling trend: manufacturers seem to be prioritizing flavor and marketability over nutrition.

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