Cocoa Puffs as health food?

Need another example that the food industry can't regulate itself?

How about an industry sponsored health label that declares Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Cocoa Puffs, Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms to be a "Smart Choice"? That's the thrust of the new "Smart Choices" label, and it's no accident that it has turned out this way. Though many healthy foods are indeed eligible, the overall structure of the program — with its industry-backed board-members, its burdensome application process and its relatively high fees — appeals to giant packaged food companies at the expense of unprocessed, unbranded foods like fruits and vegetables.

The American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association have already walked away from the Smart Choices initiative, but food companies are maintaining their commitment to it. Meanwhile, in response to the program's questionable decisions, the FDA has announced its intention to study front-of-package health labels and possibly develop its own, a process which, unfortunately, could take years to complete.