Informed consumers are healthy consumers, but it's hard to get smart about the foods you eat if you go by marketing claims alone.

Case in point: Kellogg (NYSE: K). After getting in trouble for making unsubstantiated health claims about its Rice Krispies cereal, the company agreed last week to accept what amounts to a scolding from the Federal Trade Commission. The issue? A claim that Kellogg's sugary pips of puffed rice help boost immunity, with "25 percent daily value of antioxidants and nutrients -- vitamins A, B, C, and E." Hmm. You could sprinkle the contents of a multivitamin capsule over a Twinkie and say the same thing, couldn't you?

This isn't the first time the FTC has busted Kellogg's chops. Last year, the agency complained about a boast that its Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal was "clinically shown to improve kids' attentiveness by nearly 20%." No, guys, that was just the sugar buzz.

"We expect more from a great American company than making dubious claims – not once, but twice – that its cereals improve children's health," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. "Next time, Kellogg needs to stop and think twice about the claims it's making before rolling out a new ad campaign, so parents can make the best choices for their children."

Kellogg isn't the only company to make dubious health claims about its foods, of course. But what's the solution? Should the government step up its labeling requirements, or is it up to consumers to know what they're putting in their mouths? Let us know in the comments box below.