Cereals could claim false advertising

MOBILE, Ala. - Labels and advertisements can grab your attention quick, especially one that claims it can help keep your child well.

Kellogg's popular cereal, Cocoa Krispies, has a new label that says, "Now helps support your child's immunity." This has some consumers worried that parents will get tricked into thinking a cereal will keep their child from getting sick.

Baleana Watts-McGilbery is a registered dietitian and practices at Providence Hospital. She said kids need more than a few vitamins to help keep them healthy.

"This is not a bad thing as long as it says 'supports' their immunity. It's not a replacement or means they can stay up all night and play X-Box then just eat that in the morning time. It's not a remedy, it's not a cop out, it's something the parent needs to look at," ashe says.

Watts doesn't want kids to think they don't have to practice good hygiene just because they eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast.

"My niece is learning at school, you cough into your elbow, and we don't want them to get caught up in thinking I'll be protected because I ate my Cocoa Krispies," added Watts.

The cereal increased the levels of vitamins A, B, C, and E after a study showed they increase the immune system. Although the cereal does have nutritional value, Watts said the best thing you can do to keep yourself from getting sick is eat more fruits and vegetables, and take all things in moderation.

Watts said one way to make sure you know what your kids are really eating is to study the nutrition label. The Cocoa Krispies have 12 grams of sugar per three-fourths of a cup.

"It's misleading, exactly, because if you look on the nutrition label, sugar is the number two ingredient so there's plenty of sugar in it," Watts said.

Watts said making a creative healthy breakfast menu will help your child get a variety of nutrients, which is what will help their immune system the most.