Final answer:
Cereal companies might claim eating their product leads to healthy weight in order to promote sales by linking their product with health benefits. To counter this, one can argue that a healthy weight is affected by various factors, not just cereal consumption. Similarly, Wonder Bread's claims about calcium improving mental function were halted by the FTC for lacking substantial evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The claim made by cereal companies that eating cereal leads to healthy weight may be based on the general observation that cereal can be part of a balanced diet. However, one must be cautious not to conflate correlation with causation. For instance, it's possible that those who eat cereal also engage in other health-conscious behaviors that contribute to their weight management.
On the other hand, the Wonder Bread Company's advertisements were criticized by the FTC for suggesting that extra calcium in Wonder Bread could improve children's mental functions. This is a specific health claim, which, unless supported by substantial scientific evidence, can be misleading. The FTC's objection resulted in the company agreeing to stop running the ads.
To counter a cause-and-effect claim, one could argue that multiple factors influence body weight and mental performance. For example, regular exercise and a well-rounded diet are critical components to maintaining a healthy weight and cognitive functions, not just the consumption of a particular food product.