General Mills-owned Cascadian Farm has introduced three new varieties of organic cereals, Raisin Bran, Hearty Morning and Purely O's, each said to provide a good to excellent source of potentially heart-healthy fiber.
Recent research by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has suggested that diets rich in grains such as barley and oats and thus high in soluble dietary fiber, might reduce cholesterol and risk factors associated with excess weight, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.
Cascadian Farm Raisin Bran is described as an organic twist on the classic cereal. Made with organic wheat bran flakes and raisins, this cereal is formulated to be a good source of dietary fiber (6 grams), low in fat (1 gram), naturally cholesterol free, and also contains nine vitamins and minerals.
Farm Hearty Morning is also a high fiber cereal (8 grams of dietary fiber) with organic whole wheat flakes, granola clusters and crunchy bran strands. Low in fat (2.5 grams) and saturated fat (0.5 grams), this naturally cholesterol free cereal contains 10 vitamins and minerals.
Meanwhile the Purely O's product is marketed as an organic whole grain oat cereal with only 1 gram of sugar. Low in fat (2 grams) and saturated fat (0.5 grams), this naturally cholesterol free cereal also contains 11 essential vitamins and minerals.
"Our newest organic cereals not only deliver on taste, but on the important health benefits consumers are looking for today," said Ximena Acosta-Molina, new products marketing manager for Cascadian Farm.
Cascadian Farm first introduced its line of organic cereals in June 2002, consisting of Honey Nut O's, Wheat Crunch Flakes, Oats & Honey Granola, and Multi Grain Squares. All of the company's products are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides or synthetic chemicals.
Retailing at between $3.69 and $3.99 per box, Cascadian Farm's Raisin Bran, Hearty Morning and Purely O's organic cereals are currently available in grocery stores and natural food stores nationwide.
Cascadian Farm is a part of Small Planet Foods, a business unit of General Mills. Small Planet Foods produces more than 150 organic food items that span seven organic food categories: frozen vegetables, frozen fruit, fruit spreads and cereals marketed under the Cascadian Farm brand; and canned tomatoes, pasta sauces and salsa marketed under the Muir Glen brand.