Why Cereal and Orange Juice Are Facing a Stark Breakfast Warning
Updated 15:06 22 Oct 2026 GMT+1Published 15:54 4 Apr 2026 GMT+1
It's part of a group of foods that can do damage to your body over time
A doctor has said the 'most dangerous meal in the world' is something so many people eat on a daily basis without thinking there's anything wrong.
Cereal is the staple of many breakfasts and if you were drawing up a list of unhealthy foods you might not even consider them in the conversation.
However, TikToking Dr Eric Berg, an American doctor and health educator who stresses that he is 'not a medical doctor', explained that cereals were among the group of 'ultra processed foods' (UPFs) which you shouldn't be eating if possible.
UPFs can do harm to your body over time, and the group includes foods and drinks like ready meals, crisps, ice cream and fizzy pop, as well as the likes of cereal or protein bars which many people would assume were part of a healthy lifestyle.
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So munching down on cereal for breakfast might not be the wisest option for your morning meal.
Cereals are part of the ultra processed foods group (Getty Stock Photo)
"Many people think this meal is actually healthy and it's been normalized because so many people do it, including myself growing up," Berg explained.
Dr Berg went on to describe the dish as a 'sugar bomb' and 'massive fructose overload', before naming the combination of cereal and a glass of orange juice as the 'most dangerous meal' a human can eat.
A bowl of cereal and glass of fruit juice is a simple breakfast for many out there, with studies implying that a bowl of cereal if the number one breakfast choice for Brits.
While there's plenty of variety when it comes to cereal, with healthier options like wholegrain of high-fibre on offer, the most popular options tend to be the ones that are highly processed and contain a lot of sugar.
This means you are essentially eating a bowl of sweets (plus milk) for breakfast.
Several popular brans contain artificial flavorings, colorings and seed oils, in addition to large quantities of sugar, Dr Berg explained.
"It's the perfect definition of ultra processed foods. [The] ingredients that have been so altered [that] it no longer resembles its original structure," he said.
He went on to add that constantly consuming highly processed and sugary cereals can damage your liver, eventually leading to the development of a fatty liver.
Healthline advises: "Breakfast cereals are highly processed, often packed with added sugar and refined carbs.
"If you eat cereal, read the ingredients list and approach health claims with skepticism. The best cereals are high in fibre and low in sugar."
As for orange juice, you may be wondering how it can be considered a bad option when it's literally one of your five-a-day.
However, it's still not as healthy as eating an orange due to added sugar.
"Orange juice is going in my room 101 of pet hates, because people think it’s healthy when actually, has the same concentration of sugar as a glass of Coke," Giles Yeo, author of Why Calories Don't Count, told the Telegraph.
A healthy alternative, if you have the time and patience, is to squeeze your own orange juice, as this will be free from the added sugar and preservatives found in juices purchased from a store.
In moderation, orange juice is a good source of fibre and can help to lower inflammation.
Featured Image Credit: (Getty Stock Photo)
Topics: Food And Drink, Health, News
