WK Kellogg develops Nourishing Food Criteria

BATTLE CREEK, MICH. — WK Kellogg Co., which was recently acquired by The Ferrero Group, has established the Nourishing Food Criteria in 2024, according to the company’s latest sustainable business report.

WK Kellogg set goals that 50% or more of its entire portfolio volume would meet its inaugural criteria by 2025. The goals are based on established nutrition criteria grounded in regulations, dietary guidance and the latest nutrition science. The report found that 58% of the company’s portfolio sales volume met its Nourishing Foods Criteria in fiscal 2024.

The criteria also are based on eating cereal as part of a healthy dietary pattern in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2020-2025 and Canada’s Dietary Guidelines for 2019. WK Kellogg per serving has limited added sugar to less than 25% of the Daily Value, equal to or less than 10% of the Daily Value of saturated fat and less than 10% of the Daily Value of sodium. The criteria also state that the company’s cereals, which include granola, must provide “A good source (equal to or greater than 10% of the Daily Value) of vitamin D, fiber or iron or at least one serving of whole grain (equal to or greater than 16 grams) or first ingredient listing of whole grain or a good source of protein per regional definitions,” the report said. WK Kellogg snack products, which include bites and cereal snacks, follow similar guidelines under the Nourishing Food Criteria.

“We are passionate about doing our part to make nutritious foods, create connectivity and respect natural resources,” said Sarah Ludmer, chief wellbeing and sustainable business officer of WK Kellogg. “By helping people be healthier and happier through the foods we make, the way we make them, and how we share that food, we have the power and potential to bring families, kids and communities together. This can create positive change for people and the planet, not just for today but for years to come.”

The report also summarized WK Kellogg’s SPOONS initiative, which highlights the health benefits of its cereals. The acronym stands for “cereals are Simpler than you think, many with four or five ingredients that are puffed, toasted, flaked or shredded, plus vitamins and minerals;” “cereal brings Protein to the table. A bowl of cereal and milk contains as much protein as an egg;” “Outstanding choice for fiber;” “brings Other nutritious foods along like fruit, nuts, seeds, protein powder and more that people enjoy with their cereal;” “Nutrients you need like vitamin D, calcium, fiber, iron and folate that people don’t get enough of;” and “many offerings with Single-digit added sugar per serving.”

Another area of interest in the report is fiber. WK Kellogg said that its cereals delivered 5 billion servings of fiber in 2024, with all of them providing at least one shortfall nutrient, including iron, folate, vitamin D or fiber. More than 70% of the cereals (or 130) also contain at least 8 grams of whole grains, which the company said is especially important because most Americans and Canadians only receive half the necessary amount of fiber on a daily basis.

“Fiber supports digestive wellness, and adding cereal to a balanced diet can help people reach daily fiber recommendations in a convenient, delicious way,” the report said. “Researchers also are discovering more about the roles different types of fibers play in gut health, promoting regularity and feeding the good gut bacteria.”

While most WK Kellogg cereals contain less than a tablespoon of added sugar, the company said it continues to gradually reduce added sugars in its foods without compromising taste. WK Kellogg also said it reduced the added sugars in its Froot Loops and Apple Jacks cereal by approximately 25% and in its Frosted Flakes cereals by approximately 8% as of 2023.

“Over the past 12 years, we have been working to develop and reformulate our cereals to improve their nutritional profiles and have been successful in providing a range of options from unsweetened to sweetened that meet consumer dietary preferences, achieving a reduction of 8% on average and up to 25% in one of our most popular children’s brands (Kellogg’s Froot Loops),” the report said. “The majority of our cereals (80% of our recipes) now contain less than 50 calories from added sugars per regulated serving, or 2.5% of total daily calories, which is well within U.S. dietary guidelines, and even more so considering that ready-to-eat cereal is often consumed as a meal with milk and fruit.”