Buzz
1. The 'Fortified' Cereal Controversy Shakes Scandinavia
Scandinavia, known for its low obesity rates, doesn’t owe it to diet cereals like Special K. In 2004, Denmark initiated a ban on Kellogg’s fortified cereals such as Special K, which were enriched with added vitamins. The Danes argued that the excessive amounts of vitamin B, calcium, folic acid, and iron in these cereals could reach dangerous levels if consumed daily. They warned that such toxins could potentially harm young children’s liver and kidneys. Although this stand might seem surprising for a nation that once imposed a "fat tax" on fatty foods, some officials attributed it to Denmark’s particular attitude toward food. Chris Wermann, former director of Kellogg’s corporate affairs in Europe, commented, “The Danish diet is pretty frugal or austere at the best of times. They’re protective of their diet.” Despite this, Wermann expressed that the cereal company was “incredulous” at the ban, noting that the added minerals only made up less than 25 percent of the daily recommended intake.
The ban found additional support from Denmark’s Dutch neighbors. In a segment aired on October 15, 2009, the Dutch show Keuringsdienst van Waarde investigated Kellogg’s nutritional claims, focusing on the inclusion of iron in cereals like Special K. The show suggested that the iron in Special K might be misleading, as it contained trace amounts of metallic iron rather than the iron compounds naturally found in spinach or red meat. When questioned about this, a Kellogg’s customer service representative stated that the cereal's ingredients were a company secret. Dutch food authorities later concluded that there was minimal risk in consuming the cereal, provided Kellogg’s stayed within the legal limits. (And it turns out, all iron-fortified cereals contain tiny metal pieces.)
2. Introducing So-Hi
While today we know Lucky the Leprechaun as the face of sugary cereals, 50 years ago, there was a different figure leading the charge—or perhaps a sensei, ninja, or some other vaguely Asian character. In the 1950s and '60s, Post’s Sugar-Coated Rice Krinkles (think Rice Krispies mixed with Frosted Flakes) was advertised by So-Hi, a mascot with a squinty-eyed, stereotypically “oriental” appearance.
So-Hi, essentially a more cheerful version of Mickey Rooney’s role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, would often utter strangely worded phrases such as, “Today, So-Hi have exciting story to tell about beautiful new Ford Mustang Car!” or, “You go ‘vroom, vroom’ when you get free car inside Post Rice Krinkles!” and sprinkled in a few “Ah-so’s” along the way. For a period, he even had his own rickshaw.
So-Hi reigned supreme on television and in stores from the '50s to the early '60s, before being replaced by a frightening clown.
In 1969, Rice Krinkles were completely discontinued to make way for the fruity and gritty versions we now recognize as Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles.
3. The 'Natural' Debate
Kellogg’s cereals weren’t the only ones scrutinized for their marketing practices. In 2011, Kashi, the health-focused brand owned by Kellogg’s, found itself in hot water for questionable advertising. The Cornucopia Institute, a watchdog group focused on farm policy, published a report [PDF] alleging that Kashi cereals weren’t as “natural” as advertised. The report highlighted that the term “natural” in food marketing has little regulatory meaning (since few federal guidelines define it), and found that some of Kashi’s “natural” cereals contained GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
The New York Times picked up the story, triggering widespread outrage among consumers. Many health-conscious buyers took to Kashi’s Facebook page to express their frustration: “All natural, yet genetically modified?”… “I've been a loyal Kashi consumer for years, but unless I see a USDA Certified Organic seal, I won’t buy your products anymore. After the Cornucopia Institute’s report, I just can't justify spending more on Kashi when it uses the same ingredients as other companies."
Kashi responded quickly, acknowledging some of the claims. A company representative explained, “While it’s likely some of our foods contain GMOs, the primary reason is that in North America, over 80 percent of many crops, including soybeans, are genetically modified. Outside factors have created a situation where GMOs aren’t adequately controlled.” A fierce back-and-forth followed between Kashi and the Cornucopia Institute, ultimately leading Kashi to commit to offering cereals verified by the Non-GMO Project. Today, Kashi offers 11 GMO-free cereals, proving that the power of an upset Facebook post should never be underestimated.
4. Elijah’s Manna
In the late 1800s, the familiar cereal we now call “cornflakes” was created in Battle Creek, Michigan, at a sanitarium run by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a Seventh-Day Adventist, and his brother Will Keith Kellogg. The brothers, seeking to introduce their patients to the vegetarian lifestyle recommended by their church, began experimenting with grains like wheat, oats, barley, and corn. They accidentally discovered a method to “flake” wheat berries, leading to the creation of their first flaked corn cereal.
The Kelloggs invented cornflakes in 1904, serving it to their sanitarium patients. However, they didn’t launch the cereal commercially until 1906, giving a former patient, C.W. Post, the chance to create his own version and market it to the public. Post, who had already invented Grape Nuts, decided to try his hand at cornflakes, branding them as Elijah’s Manna. The cereal, which featured a box with the prophet Elijah feeding manna to a bird, sparked religious controversy, with critics calling it sacrilegious. In Britain, Elijah’s Manna was even banned. Post defended his product, remarking, “Perhaps no one should eat angel food cake, enjoy Adam's ale, live in St. Paul, nor work for Bethlehem Steel ... one should have his Adam's apple removed and never again name a child for the good people of the bible.” Nevertheless, the controversy led Post to change the name in 1908 to the less contentious Post Toasties, replacing Elijah with Mickey Mouse.
5. The Fruit Fraud
Adding fruit to your cereal is often seen as a healthier choice, but what if that “fruit” is actually a blend of other ingredients? In 2012, the Consumer Wellness Center published a report revealing that fruit substitutes are surprisingly common in many breakfast cereals. According to the report, claims of “real fruit!” may actually refer to fruit “bits” that are mostly sugar, food dye, and corn syrup, with a splash of fruit juice for flavor. For example, Frosted Mini Wheats’ blueberry variety contains no actual blueberries—its “blueberry crunchlets” are made from soybean oil, sugar, red no. 40, and blue no. 2.
If that sounds like a lot of effort to replicate something naturally found in nature, you’re not wrong. As Mike Adams, the author of the report, explained, “[…] real blueberries are expensive. And artificial blueberry bits, made with sugar, partially hydrogenated oils, and artificial colors, are dirt cheap. If these companies can convince consumers that they’re eating real blueberries, they can charge a premium price and boost their profits.” The report also provided a simple way to avoid these fake berries: check the ingredients list for red or blue food dyes. If you see them, you’re probably looking at a fake.
6. ‘Just Checking’ Challenges Prejudice
A commercial for a popular cereal, featuring a biracial couple, triggered a wave of outrage when it aired. If this seems familiar, it’s not just because of historical context. In 2013, a Cheerios ad showing an interracial family received so much hateful backlash, from mild disapproval to extreme reactions (including references to Nazis and genocide), that the YouTube comments section had to be disabled. Some attribute the intensity of the racist responses to the ad's widespread exposure on YouTube, where people feel they can express their most extreme opinions without facing significant accountability.
The ad, called “Just Checking,” now has over 4 million views. For every hateful comment claiming the commercial “made [them] want to vomit,” there were many others praising the bi-racial representation. One commenter expressed gratitude, saying, “Having been mixed in the '70s, I'd like to thank everyone at Cheerios for making a commercial with an interracial couple! Going to buy boxes today! Many thanks for reflecting what my family looked like.” Cheerios handled the situation with grace. As General Mills’ vice president of marketing, Camille Gibson, shared with Gawker, “Consumers have responded positively to our new Cheerios ad. At Cheerios, we know there are many kinds of families and we celebrate them all.” In response to the controversy, another video was released showing children’s reactions to the ad. They didn’t understand what the fuss was about.
