Michael Phelps and Frosted Flakes

UPDATE, February 6, 2009: Michael Phelps: Of Pot and Frosted Flakes
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Some health "experts" are up in arms because Michael Phelps' image will adorn the Frosted Flakes box.

How dare Phelps endorse that sugary cereal!

It's an outrage!

From the New York Sun:

Olympic legend Michael Phelps will appear on boxes of the Kellogg's brand sugar cereal, drawing sharp criticism from health experts worried about the message he'll be sending to children across America.

"I would not consider Frosted Flakes the food of an Olympian," said nutritionist Rebecca Solomon of Mount Sinai Medical Center.

"I would rather see him promoting Fiber One. I would rather see him promoting oatmeal. I would even rather see him promoting Cheerios."

The critical health experts are the flakes.

Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes aren't responsible for making America's children overweight.

It's not as if Phelps promoted Fiber One kids across the country would start gobbling up that cereal.

Phelps just won 8 Olympic gold medals. He pushed himself. He worked for years to achieve that goal. That's the message kids are getting.

If kids want to be like Phelps, they'll need to get off the couch and exercise. Eating Frosted Flakes is not the problem.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Aug 19, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- He's already taken his place in history alongside the legends, but now Michael Phelps can add one more milestone to the list. After earning eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps has earned a place of honor on the front of specially-marked Kellogg's Frosted Flakes (R: 66.26, -0.45, -0.67%) and Kellogg's Corn Flakes (R: 66.26, -0.45, -0.67%) cereal boxes.

The gold medal winning Olympic champion from Baltimore, Maryland will be featured on Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal packages that are expected to hit grocery store shelves across the U.S. in mid-September. The boxes will feature images of Phelps during what were some of the most memorable moments of this summer's Olympic Games.

"As an Official Sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and a proud sponsor of Phelps, it is only fitting that Kellogg Company feature this world-class athlete on its iconic boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereals," said Marta Cyhan, Vice President, Global Promotions, Kellogg Company. "Michael embodies the values behind our Frosted Flakes Earn Your Stripes (TM: 87.59, -1.33, -1.49%) program. He knows that winning is not just about the glory that comes with gold medals, but about good sportsmanship, working hard and being your best."

Kellogg's Frosted Flakes helps kids be their best through its Earn Your Stripes program. With inspiration from Tony the Tiger (R: 66.26, -0.45, -0.67%), the Earn Your Stripes program is designed to encourage kids to eat right, be more active and work hard to achieve all of their goals.

Earn your stripes, kids.