GED Social Studies: Are Cheerios a Drug?
Okay, I guess Cheerios aren’t a drug. But here’s the thing… as you’re studying for your GED, seriously the best thing is to check the news headlines and keep in touch with what’s going on all around. Because this article I read about Cheerios is just social studies in action. The government, economics, wars, people making history, it’s all GED social science, and it’s all over the news. But, what I was saying is about Cheerios. So, you’ve seen those ads, you can lower cholesterol 4 percent in 6 weeks by eating Cheerios? It’s interesting to me, because I’ve got to keep an eye on my cholesterol. Too much bad cholesterol can lead to heart problems, you know. But the FDA stepped in, and said Cheerios can’t claim that. They’re advertising Cheerios like it’s a heart drug, and heart medicines have got to be proven to work and approved by the FDA.
So, what do you think about that? Whole grains like Cheerios can be good for your cholesterol… so is it wrong for Cheerios to say that it lowers your cholesterol? Does it work? And how does anyone know it works? Is Cheerios really claiming to be a drug? I don’t know the answer for sure… I guess I’ve got to give some thought to this! Meanwhile, here’s a practice question about the article…
The article says:
The FDA said ads promoting Cheerios as a drug that can “lower your cholesterol 4 percent in six weeks” violates the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
The federal agency claims the language on the Cheerios box suggests the cereal is designed to prevent or treat heart disease. Regulators say that only FDA-approved drugs are allowed to make such claims.
So, the question is, based on this passage, which of the following advertisements would be illegal, according to the FDA?
1) An ad that says a lipstick can make your lips plumper for 2-3 hours.
2) An public service ad that says regular exercise can build heart health over several months.
3) An ad that says a soy-sunflower seed health bar lowers blood pressure in 3 weeks.
4) An ad that says a dark chocolate candy snack can be part of a heart-healthy diet.
5) An ad that says that milk provides vitamin D and calcium, important nutrients for heart health.
So, which did you choose? This is an application question. You need to take the problem the FDA identifies with the Cheerio advertisement, and apply the same principle or idea to other ads. So, what’s the Cheerios ad really doing wrong, according to the FDA? It’s promising a specific medical result. It doesn’t just say Cheerios has whole-grain oats, it says Cheerios lowers cholesterol in 6 weeks. The answer that’s closest says that the health bar lowers blood pressure in 3 weeks. That’s claiming it does something medicinal. I’d say, it’s answer 3.
Good luck with your GED studying!
