MINNEAPOLIS, MN – General Mills interrupts your morning social scrolling to bring BIG news to the breakfast table: family-favorite cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cheerios now deliver 20% of the Daily Value of Vitamin D – twice the previous amount – with the majority of Big G Cereals to follow in the coming weeks. As the category leader, General Mills is the first to broadly roll out this important nutrition upgrade across most of its Big G Cereals and is championing the effort in its new Goodness We Grow Up On campaign.
Vitamin D is essential for building and maintaining strong bones, but is often under-consumed, with 96% [1] of all Americans ages 2 years and older falling short on this key nutrient. But with the good news of an even better nutrition profile than what today's parents grew up on, they can now help close the Vitamin D gap with a bowl of the Big G cereals their kids already know and love.
The Big G Cereals advancement in nutrition follows approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year to increase levels of Vitamin D fortification in ready-to-eat cereal. Additional household favorites like Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Trix and Cookie Crisp will hit shelves with the Vitamin D update throughout the summer, ensuring there’s something for everyone from picky kids to busy college students to active adults.
“General Mills Big G Cereals have long been a leader in delivering good nutrition,” said Ricardo Fernandez, president of U.S. Morning Foods. “We were proud to be the first major company to make whole grain the first ingredient in our Big G Cereals recipes nearly 20 years ago, a commitment that stands to this day. And with the newly increased Vitamin D fortification of these cereals, we’re proud to remind parents of the goodness they grew up on with Big G and how we continue to deliver nutritious options for their families today.”
Breakfast changes lives. Research shows that nutrients missed at breakfast are usually not made up during the rest of the day, and cereal for breakfast is hard to beat when it comes to nutrient density [2]. For Americans at breakfast, cereal is the #1 source of whole grain, fiber and several key vitamins and minerals including folate, iron, zinc, vitamin A and many B vitamins [1]. It is difficult to find this mix of essential nutrition in other breakfast choices.
The old adage “the more things change, the more things stay the same” is at the root of General Mills’ new Goodness We Grow Up On campaign.
Children of the 80s & 90s grew up with Buzz the Bee, Sonny the Cuckoo Bird and Trix the Rabbit delighting and providing delicious, affordable nutrition. To that end, families will see new premium online videos, banner ads, social content and experiential elements throughout the summer – a throwback reminder of the great taste, good nutrition and joy Big G Cereals have delivered for decades. It’s the goodness kids grew up with then, and the goodness they’re continuing to grow up on now.
“Cereal is one of few foods that’s consumed across the lifespan and a household staple that can support good nutrition to a large portion of the population,” said Amy Cohn, Registered Dietitian and senior nutrition manager at General Mills. “Doubling the Vitamin D content of our Big G Cereals is just another step in our continued commitment to providing affordable, accessible nutrition because we know that breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated or break the bank – and it can be as easy as a beloved bowl of cereal.”
For more news you can use on Big G Cereals, head to GeneralMills.com and check out Big G Cereals on Instagram for fun inspiration!
General Mills stands for good – for the people we serve, the brands you love and the planet we depend on. For more than 150 years, General Mills has believed doing good and good business go hand-in-hand. The company is putting people first by improving food security and advancing a culture of inclusion, equity and belonging, and by creating positive planetary outcomes through actions beyond its walls. Learn more at GeneralMills.com/gstandsforgood.
General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to drive shareholder value by boldly building its brands, relentlessly innovating, unleashing its scale and standing for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Totino’s, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2023 net sales of U.S. $20.1 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion.
1. NHANES 2017-March 2020 for population 2 years and older
2. SOURCE: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665121000495
