Will Cheerios’ New Ingredient Update Change the Flavor?

When you think of cereal, it doesn’t get much more classic than Cheerios. They’ve been around since 1941, and even though they’ve gone through dozens of flavor varieties over the years, the original remains the most popular. But, General Mills just announced an upgrade to most of their cereals, including Cheerios—it’s doubling the Vitamin D content.

The cereal giant suggests that the need for the change is due to the fact that 96% of Americans over the age of two aren’t getting the Vitamin D they need.

While the addition seems like a good thing, will it change the flavor of Cheerios that we know and love?

Thankfully, no. Though it might not seem like it when you’re walking down the cereal aisle and scanning for all things frosted and sugary, breakfast cereal has long been considered a healthy food.

No, that doesn’t mean you should be eating an entire box of Reese’s Puffs every day.

But, most cereals contain supplemental nutrients like Vitamin A and B, folic acid, iron, and more—including Vitamin D. They’ve always served as sort of a “sneaky” way to sneak in nutrition, especially for picky eaters and children.

You can’t taste the added nutrients now, and you won’t be able to when the boost of Vitamin D is added. It won’t change the texture, color, or appearance of Cheerios (or any other cereal) either. The only difference is how much Vitamin D you’ll be getting with each spoonful, which might just be an excuse to eat more of the tasty snack.

Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for good health. Most of us recognize it as the vitamin we get from sunlight, but it also comes from what we eat. It helps to build strong bones, and can even reduce inflammation.

Low levels of Vitamin D can contribute to weak bones and muscle pain. For kids, it can impact growth and development. Since children are often major consumers of cereal, this nutritional increase in Cheerios and other General Mills offerings is both important and beneficial.

Since you don’t have to worry about the boost of Vitamin D changing the flavor of your Cheerios (or any other cereal), you can continue to enjoy it as a morning staple, and it’s something you can feel good about feeding your family. Cereal might not always have the best reputation when it comes to added sugar, but there are plenty of other nutrients to look at that are necessary for healthy living.