New research has found that American breakfast cereals have become unhealthier over the last decade. This is due to increased levels of sugar, fat, and salt in the cereals. There is concern about the impact this could have on Canada. Fortunately, safeguards are already in place, but it is important to remain vigilant.ne. The results were positive for Canada. The report also provided a range of recommendations for further improvements.
Recent research has found that American breakfast cereals have become unhealthier in recent years [1]. This is due to increases in sugar, fat, and salt, and a decline in protein and fibre.
With American cereals proving very popular around the world, there is concern at what impact this could have both domestically and internationally.
In Canada, there are some concerns, although certain safeguards have protected Canadians from seeing the same decrease in terms of the nutritional health of cereals.
Research finds worrying trend
The research was conducted by a team from the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University. Their findings were published in JAMA Network Open [1].
The research analyzed 1,200 cereals introduced in the United States between 2010 and 2023 [1]. The aim was to see how the ingredients and nutritional values changed over this 13-year period.
As mentioned above, the biggest increases were seen in salt and fat, with the researchers calling these the “most pronounced increases” of all [1].
Carbohydrate content rose from 26 grams in 2010 to almost 33 grams in 2023. While carbohydrates are an important part of a diet, breakfast cereals will often have refined carbohydrates – which tend to be unhealthy [1].
Additionally, sugar content had a moderate increase from 2010 to 2022. However, in some positive news, there has been a slight dip in sugar levels since 2022 [1].
What impact will this have on Canada?
Given the close trade and proximity to the US, such developments inevitably impact Canada. This impacts health professionals like dentists and the consumers themselves.
There is an additional consideration for Canada, due to the upcoming front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) rules which will be introduced from 1st January 2026 [2].
These rules will make it clear on food products when there are high levels of fat, sugar, and salt. The hope is that this will deter people from purchasing unhealthy food.
But even before this is introduced, Canada is already well-positioned in terms of safeguarding its citizens, to an extent.
Professor Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University explains that “Canada tends to be a bit more conservative when it comes to food regulations” [2].
Continuing, Charlebois says that “while the US is seeing these sugar, fat, and sodium levels creep up, we’re starting to push back” [2].
It is positive that Canada is moving in the right direction, and hopefully the new FOPL rules will make a further positive difference.
Another benefit is that formulations of the same cereal can change, dependent on where they are based. So while we may see the same brand of cereal in the US and Canada, they may have different ingredients.
Many cereals that we see on grocery store shelves are produced by multinational companies, which often have a presence in both the US and Canada.
As Charlebois points out, this has the benefit of allowing companies to “tweak formulations depending on local regulations or consumer preferences” [2].
Furthermore, he says “for example, Canadian versions might have less sugar or slightly different vitamin fortifications” [2]. But he does caution that they will be largely similar.
There are also strict rules on advertising to children in Canada, meaning that some high-sugar foods cannot be advertised to them.
Positive steps
Overall, the good news is that Canada appears to have strong safeguards in place, which is helping to protect the health of the nation.
But there are some positive signs from the US, which should hopefully have a positive knock-on effect on rest of the world. Efforts are seemingly being made to cut sugar levels across the board on food and drinks.
This is predominantly due to US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has called sugar “poison” [3].
Kennedy has been leading the fight to change the nation’s food regulations and ending the childhood obesity problem. He is aiming to “Make America Healthy Again” [4].
His dislike of food dyes, ultra-processed foods, seed oils, and food additives has won him some support [4]. This ongoing effort will hopefully lead to sugar levels dropping in cereals and other foods.
This is especially useful for cereals, as it is often children that eat cereals, so having a high sugar meal at the start of each day is unhealthy. It impacts both physical and oral health.
Charlebois also commented on Kennedy’s impact, saying that “if someone like RFK Jr. pushes hard on school food reform and it gains traction, cereal brands will adapt — reformulating, rebranding, or even reducing sugar in kid-focused products” [2].
Continuing, he says that “Canada might not drive that change, but we’ll definitely feel the impact” [2]. Therefore, things do seem to be moving in the right direction.
The American Dental Association is also urging the Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen research on the link between sugar and oral health problems [2].
A combination of further research and improvements to nutrition should have a positive impact on the wider health of everyone. This would be very beneficial.
Thinking points…
[1] With the above in mind, if you have children, it might be worth checking the ingredients of their cereal. Promoting good oral health habits from a young age is important. For example, limiting their sugar intake is helpful. Additionally, attending oral health check-ups are important. Make sure that your children have regular appointments!
[2] While it is important to remember the oral health of children, you shouldn’t forget your own! Getting check-ups as an adult is very important, as any issues can be addressed. We recommend that you go for a check-up at least once every six months. Additionally, having strong oral hygiene can contribute to strong oral health. We recommend that you book an appointment now!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental , we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Zhao, S., Li, Q., Chai, Y., et al. (2025). Nutritional Content of Ready-to-Eat Breakfast Cereals Marketed to Children. JAMA Network Open. 8 (5): e2511699. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11699.
[2] Al-Shibeeb, D. (2025). U.S. breakfast cereals are getting less healthy. What does that mean for Canadians?. Available: https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/public-health/u-s-breakfast-cereals-are-getting-less-healthy-what-does-that-mean-for-canadians-1003987048/. Last accessed: 30th May 2025.
[3] NPR. (2025). In Good Health: Is Sugar Poison?. Available: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/01/1248444372/1a-sugar-05-01-2025. Last accessed: 30th May 2025.
[4] Halpert, M. (2025). Can RFK Jr make America’s diet healthy again?. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze391y17z7o. Last accessed: 30th May 2025.
