A new report from the American environmental and consumer organization, Environmental Working Group (EWG), has revealed that breakfast cereals, bars, and similar products containing synthetically produced vitamins can be extremely harmful to health. The report highlights that artificially enriched zinc, niacin, and vitamin A can damage vital organs and the immune system. The researchers examined 1,556 cereals and 1,025 snack or energy bars containing the three synthetic additives, emphasizing that artificially enriched vitamins and natural vitamins found in whole foods must be distinguished. Natural vitamins, such as those found in apples, pears, or strawberries, are metabolized differently by the body. However, when synthetically produced and added to processed foods, their effects change.
The report warns that too much synthetic vitamin A can cause liver damage, skeletal abnormalities, scaly skin, and hair loss. Similarly, excessive synthetic zinc inhibits the absorption of copper, which is essential for the immune system. The EWG report explains that food manufacturers often add large amounts of vitamins and minerals to their products to make them appear more nutritious and sell better. Enriched breakfast cereals are often the cause of excessive consumption because all three nutrients are added in quantities calculated for adults, not children.
The report concludes that a high consumption of enriched nutrients is the result of unscrupulous marketing, faulty labeling, and outdated enrichment policies. The current system of nutrient labeling endangers children’s health and urgently needs reform. The analysis clearly shows that synthetic vitamins are a problem, and too few people are aware of how harmful breakfast cereals with synthetic vitamins can be for both adults and children.
