Introduction
General Mills, the parent company of popular brands like Cheerios, Betty Crocker, and Pillsbury, is making a big change to its ingredients. The company is committed to removing artificial flavors and colors from its products, and replacing them with natural ingredients. This move is part of a larger trend in the food industry towards healthier, more natural ingredients. In this article, we’ll take a look at what this change means for General Mills’ products, and how it could affect your diet. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make healthier choices when it comes to eating General Mills products. So, if you’re looking for a healthier way to enjoy your favorite cereals, baking mixes, and other products, read on to find out more.
General Mills Is Changing Its Ingredients — Eat This Not That
General Mills, the parent company of popular brands like Cheerios, Betty Crocker, and Pillsbury, is making a big change to its ingredients. The company announced that it will be removing artificial flavors and colors from its products. This is a major shift for the company, which has long been known for its processed foods.
The move is part of a larger trend in the food industry towards healthier, more natural ingredients. General Mills is joining other major food companies like Kraft and Nestle in removing artificial ingredients from their products. The company is also working to reduce the amount of sugar and sodium in its products.
The change is good news for health-conscious consumers. Artificial flavors and colors have been linked to a variety of health issues, including allergies and cancer. By removing these ingredients, General Mills is making its products safer and healthier.
However, it’s important to remember that General Mills products are still processed foods. While they may be free of artificial ingredients, they are still high in sugar, sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients. So while the change is a step in the right direction, it’s important to remember to eat these products in moderation.
If you’re looking for healthier alternatives to General Mills products, there are plenty of options. Whole grain cereals, natural snacks, and fresh fruits and vegetables are all great options. You can also look for products that are labeled “organic” or “non-GMO” to ensure that you’re getting the healthiest ingredients possible.
General Mills’ move to remove artificial ingredients is a positive step towards healthier eating. But it’s important to remember that processed foods are still not the healthiest option. So while it’s great that General Mills is making a change, it’s still important to make sure you’re eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh, whole foods.
When it comes to inflation’s impact on supplies, sometimes you just have to get creative and roll with it. That’s what General Mills intends to do as shortages have particularly affected the multinational brand’s pizza, hot snacks, cereal, and refrigerated baked goods — so much so, it’s changing the recipe.
Materials including starch, packaging, fats, and oils were the most challenging for the company to find, leaders said in an earnings call with investors at the end of March. The problems sourcing the ingredients have resulted from labor challenges, logistics “bottlenecks,’ and most recently, availability of the things that go into foods like Annie’s, Betty Crocker, Bugles, Cheerios, Cookie Crisp, Lucky Charms, Nature Valley, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Yoplait, and more.
“The biggest issue we’re seeing is really around material selection. So ingredients coming into our plants,” Jon Nudi, President of North American Retail said in the call. “In some of our products, we’ve reformulated over 20 times year-to-date.”
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Part of the issue is a global supply shortage resulting from the war in Ukraine, which has put additional strain on oils and starch. Those two ingredients are usually made of wheat—which is heavily exported by Russia and Ukraine. Both countries are halting sending resources out right now. Earlier this month, General Mills said it had suspended its advertising and cereal business investments in Russia amid the conflict.
The company has taken steps to mitigate shortages in addition to altering recipes like fully staffing distribution centers and creating multiple teams to help logistics with sourcing products. The multinational manufacturer will also be reaching out to suppliers to request prioritization on certain ingredients and adding capacity for other products, including fruit, potatoes, and cereal Supply Chain Dive says.
While General Mills hopes these efforts will improve its supplies, the company doesn’t believe it will return to normal levels of inventory until 2023, “where hopefully, we can get back to more historical inventory levels,” Nudi says.
Before you stock up, be sure to check out This Beloved Breakfast Cereal Is Making People Sick.
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Amber Lake