The Green Party has welcomed a decision by the Kellogg Company to reduce the sugar content of their breakfast cereals. Responding to news that Kellogg’s intend to reduce the amount of sugar in some of their cereals by 15% next year, Green Party Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ciarán Cuffe said:

"I am pleased with this announcement. The Kellogg Company is one of the main players in the cereal business, and I hope that they would consider extending this initiative to some of their other products, including Special K original breakfast bars, which are 38% sugar.

"I met with Kellogg’s representatives recently and stressed the importance of reducing levels of sugar and salt in food products.

"At a time of increasing concern surrounding obesity it is important that companies and government move to improve the quality of food. I hope that other companies will follow their example of reducing sugar content.

"I also support the call from the Irish Heart Foundation for clear and unambiguous food labels which support healthy food choices, and will continue to work with my colleagues in Government and at European level to achieve this. The Green Party believes that labelling which shows Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) as well as traffic light food labelling is the best way of achieving this.

"The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recent publication Food Harvest 2020 states that ‘products that deliver on health and wellness will continue to grow in importance’. Today’s announcement sends a signal to other food producers to improve the health benefits of their own products.

"The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food continues to roll out the ‘Food Dudes’ programme. This successful programme managed by Bord Bia aims to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables amongst children.

"Additionally, I know that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is working to revise advertising codes to take into account the Government’s commitments on junk food advertising to children, and specifically the advertising of products that are high in fat, salt and sugar. I believe that I can speak for many thousands of parents across the country in saying that we eagerly progress on this front."