Goodbye, Sweet Morning

Would the Cocoa Puffs bird act so cuckoo without so much sugar in his diet? We may find out, as General Mills (NYSE:GIS) is cutting the sugar in 10 cereals it markets to kids.

This is not the first round of sugar reduction for General Mills, and Kellogg (NYSE:K) and Ralcorp's (NYSE:RAH) Post Foods unit have also reduced sugar in cereals.

Writes The Associated Press in its report:

"Cereal makers argue that their products provide essential nutrients and are a healthy breakfast. But health experts are concerned that added sugar, which provides no nutritional value, could contribute to weight gain."

This issue raises so many questions: What responsibility, if any, do these companies have to their customers' health? Are the country's changing tastes for sugar more than a minor problem for them?

Do candy companies such as Hershey (NYSE:HSY), Cadbury (NYSE:CBY), and Tootsie Roll (NYSE:TR) need to worry about overhauling their recipes and their supply chains? Is health-care reform going to bring more woes to the sweets shops?

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