CONNECTICUT TO SCRUTINIZE FOOD LABELS
Blumenthal
In letters to Kellogg's  General Mills and PepsiCo  the attorney general  Richard Blumenthal  said he was concerned that the program  called Smart Choices  was "overly simplistic  inaccurate and ultimately misleading." The three companies are among several food giants that participate in the program.
 In an interview on Wednesday  Blumenthal said he had discussed his investigation with attorneys general from other states and several had expressed interest in joining his effort. In other prominent consumer protection cases  states have worked together to pursue companies or industries  including cigarette makers and subprime lenders  over charges of deceptive marketing.
 "As a matter of common sense  these sugar-laden or fat-saturated products seem very questionable as so-called 'Smart Choices' nutritionally " Blumenthal said. "We're ratcheting up pressure for truthful answers to these issues."
 The Connecticut investigation will seek to determine if the labeling campaign violates the state's consumer protection law  which bars misleading or false product claims  he added.
 Executives of the Smart Choices program said in a written statement on Wednesday that they would cooperate with Blumenthal. "The Smart Choices program was developed during an open and lengthy collaborative process that included some of the most experienced and accomplished professionals in nutrition science " the statement said  calling the program "an important step in the right direction to help consumers." PepsiCo also said it was cooperating.
 The letters from Blumenthal  sent last month  also went to organizations involved in developing and administering the program  including the American Society for Nutrition. The letters asked for information on how the program was developed.
 Investigators are also seeking information on any consumer research that may have been conducted as part of the program  according to the letters.
Blumenthal  sent last month  also went to organizations involved in developing and administering the program  including the American Society for Nutrition. The letters asked for information on how the program was developed.
 Blumenthal said he hoped to discover whether marketing concerns influenced the program's criteria. "Were the choices of products shaped by an advertising strategy rather than scientific evidence?" he said.
 In determining whether to pursue the inquiry  Blumenthal said that he consulted with a number of experts  including Kelly D. Brownell  the director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.
 In the letters  Blumenthal said he was particularly concerned about products marketed to children  including sweet cereals like Froot Loops  made by Kellogg's; Lucky Charms and Cocoa Puffs  made by General Mills; and Quaker Oatmeal Squares  made by Quaker  a division of PepsiCo.
In letters to Kellogg's  General Mills and PepsiCo  the attorney general  [TGT]said [TGT] was concerned that the program  called Smart Choices  was "overly simplistic  inaccurate and ultimately misleading." The three companies are among several food giants that participate in the program.
 In an interview on Wednesday  [TGT] said [TGT] had discussed [TGT] investigation with attorneys general from other states and several had expressed interest in joining [TGT] effort. In other prominent consumer protection cases  states have worked together to pursue companies or industries  including cigarette makers and subprime lenders  over charges of deceptive marketing.
 "As a matter of common sense  these sugar-laden or fat-saturated products seem very questionable as so-called 'Smart Choices' nutritionally " [TGT] said. "We're ratcheting up pressure for truthful answers to these issues."
 The Connecticut investigation will seek to determine if the labeling campaign violates the state's consumer protection law  which bars misleading or false product claims  he added.
 Executives of the Smart Choices program said in a written statement on Wednesday that they would cooperate with [TGT]. "The Smart Choices program was developed during an open and lengthy collaborative process that included some of the most experienced and accomplished professionals in nutrition science " the statement said  calling the program "an important step in the right direction to help consumers." PepsiCo also said it was cooperating.
 [TGT]sent last month  also went to organizations involved in developing and administering the program  including the American Society for Nutrition. [TGT] asked for information on how the program was developed.
 Investigators are also seeking information on any consumer research that may have been conducted as part of the program  according to [TGT].
[TGT]sent last month  also went to organizations involved in developing and administering the program  including the American Society for Nutrition. [TGT] asked for information on how the program was developed.
 [TGT] said [TGT] hoped to discover whether marketing concerns influenced the program's criteria. "Were the choices of products shaped by an advertising strategy rather than scientific evidence?" [TGT] said.
 In determining whether to pursue the inquiry  [TGT] said that [TGT] consulted with a number of experts  including Kelly D. Brownell  the director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.
 In [TGT][TGT] said [TGT] was particularly concerned about products marketed to children  including sweet cereals like Froot Loops  made by Kellogg's; Lucky Charms and Cocoa Puffs  made by General Mills; and Quaker Oatmeal Squares  made by Quaker  a division of PepsiCo.