New Quaker packaging links eating oats with lower cholesterol

Quaker will begin adding a new health claim to packaging of 11 of its products in response to a decision by Health Canada to allow the company to link eating oats to reduced cholesterol levels.

Quaker spokesperson Karen Krugel said the claim will appear in the new year and will state that “oat fibre helps reduce cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease.” Currently Quaker packaging says that “soluable oat fibre contributes to healthy cholesterol levels."

It's a subtle change, with the key difference in wording being that now eating Quaker Oats "reduces" cholesterol rather than just contriburing to "healthy" levels of cholesterol.

“Canadians have been enjoying Quaker oats for decades as part of healthy eating, and the science supports this,” says Dr. Randall Kaplan, director of nutrition science and regulatory affairs at Quaker’s parent company, PepsiCo Canada. 

The new claim will appear on the following products: Large Flake Quaker Oats; Quick Quaker Oats; One Minute Quaker Oats; Quaker 100% Whole Grain Oatmeal packets; Quaker Instant Oatmeal; Quaker Reduced Sugar Instant Oatmeal; Quaker Weight Control Instant Oatmeal; Quaker High In Fibre Instant Oatmeal; Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal; Quaker Oat Bran Hot Cereal; Quaker Oatmeal to Go Oatmeal Bars.

Each product’s claim will vary slightly. For instance, the claim for Quaker Oats will state that “1/3 cup (30g) of Quick Quaker Oats supplies 40% of the daily amount of the fibres shown to help reduce cholesterol.”