Why Were Cornflakes Invented?

Cornflakes are one of the most popular breakfast cereals in the world. It is consumed by millions of people every day, and it is a staple breakfast item in many households. However, have you ever wondered why cornflakes were invented? In this article, we will explore the history of cornflakes and find out why they were invented.

The story of cornflakes begins with two brothers, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg. The Kellogg brothers were born in the mid-1800s in Michigan, USA. They were raised in a strict religious household and were taught to abstain from any form of pleasure, including food. The Kellogg brothers believed that a bland and simple diet was the key to good health and spiritual well-being.

John Harvey Kellogg went on to become a physician and was the superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, a health resort that focused on diet and exercise. It was here that the Kellogg brothers began experimenting with different foods, trying to find a suitable breakfast food for the patients.

In the late 1800s, the breakfast options were limited, and people often ate heavy, fatty meals in the morning. The Kellogg brothers wanted to create a breakfast food that was healthy, easy to digest, and inexpensive. They experimented with various grains and eventually settled on corn.

Corn was a readily available crop in the mid-western United States, and it was cheap to produce. The Kellogg brothers would cook cornmeal, and then let it sit for a few days until it became stale. They would then roll the stale cornmeal into thin sheets, which they would bake and then break into small pieces. The resulting product was a flaky, crispy cereal that they called “Granose.”

In 1894, John Harvey Kellogg served Granose to his patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The cereal was an immediate hit, and the patients loved it. However, Will Keith Kellogg saw an opportunity to market the cereal to a wider audience.

Will Keith Kellogg was a marketing genius and believed that Granose could be a huge success if it was marketed correctly. He began experimenting with different flavors and textures, trying to make the cereal more appealing to a wider audience. Eventually, he came up with a new recipe for the cereal, which he called “cornflakes.”

Cornflakes were made by toasting the corn flakes and adding a small amount of sugar to improve the taste. The new recipe was an instant success, and in 1906, Will Keith Kellogg founded the Kellogg Company to produce and market cornflakes.

Cornflakes were marketed as a healthy breakfast food that was easy to prepare and delicious. The Kellogg Company began advertising cornflakes on billboards, in newspapers, and on the radio. They also offered free samples of the cereal to households across the United States.

The marketing campaign was a huge success, and cornflakes quickly became a staple breakfast item in households across America. The Kellogg Company became one of the largest food manufacturers in the world, and cornflakes became one of the most popular breakfast cereals in the world.

However, the story of cornflakes does not end there. In the early 1900s, the Kellogg Company faced a new challenge. Other food manufacturers began producing similar products, and the market for breakfast cereals became increasingly competitive.

To stay ahead of the competition, the Kellogg Company continued to innovate and experiment with new products. In 1928, they introduced Rice Krispies, a cereal made from rice that “snaps, crackles, and pops” when milk is added to it. Rice Krispies became an instant success and is still popular today.

The Kellogg Company also continued to develop new flavors and varieties of cornflakes. In the 1930s, they introduced Frosted Flakes, a sweetened version of cornflakes that became a hit with children. In the 1960s, they introduced Special K, a cereal marketed towards adults who were looking to lose weight. Today, the Kellogg Company produces dozens of different types of cereals, including many variations of cornflakes.

So, why were cornflakes invented? The answer is simple: to provide a healthy, easy-to-prepare, and inexpensive breakfast food. The Kellogg brothers believed that a bland and simple diet was the key to good health and spiritual well-being, and they wanted to create a breakfast food that reflected those beliefs. Corn was a readily available crop that was cheap to produce, and the Kellogg brothers believed that they could create a cereal that was both healthy and delicious.

The success of cornflakes can be attributed to the marketing genius of Will Keith Kellogg. He saw an opportunity to market Granose to a wider audience and experimented with different flavors and textures to make the cereal more appealing. His efforts paid off, and cornflakes quickly became a staple breakfast item in households across America.

Today, cornflakes are still popular, and they are consumed by millions of people around the world. They are a versatile cereal that can be eaten with milk or yogurt, and they can also be used in recipes for cookies, granola bars, and other snacks. The Kellogg Company continues to innovate and develop new flavors and varieties of cornflakes, ensuring that this breakfast classic remains popular for years to come.

Cornflakes were invented to provide a healthy, easy-to-prepare, and inexpensive breakfast food. The Kellogg brothers believed that a bland and simple diet was the key to good health and spiritual well-being, and they wanted to create a breakfast food that reflected those beliefs. The success of cornflakes can be attributed to the marketing genius of Will Keith Kellogg, who saw an opportunity to market Granose to a wider audience and experimented with different flavors and textures to make the cereal more appealing. Today, cornflakes are still popular, and they continue to be a staple breakfast item in households around the world.

One interesting fact that has been highlighted by some sources is that cornflakes were initially created as part of an anti-masturbation crusade. John Harvey Kellogg was a strong advocate of abstinence from all forms of pleasure, including sexual pleasure. He believed that a bland and simple diet, including the consumption of cornflakes, would reduce sexual desire and promote good health. However, this aspect of the history of cornflakes is often overlooked in modern times, and the cereal is now simply seen as a breakfast classic.

The history of cornflakes is an interesting one that sheds light on the development of breakfast foods in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Kellogg brothers’ desire to create a healthy and inexpensive breakfast food led to the invention of cornflakes, which quickly became a staple in American households. The success of cornflakes can be attributed to the marketing genius of Will Keith Kellogg, who developed new flavors and varieties of the cereal to appeal to a wider audience. Today, cornflakes remain popular, and they continue to be an important part of breakfast routines around the world.

References:

“Corn Flakes Were Invented as Part of an Anti-Masturbation Crusade” by Matt Blitz, Smithsonian Magazine, September 5, 2017. “The Surprisingly Adventurous History of Corn Flakes” by John Gilpatrick, Chowhound, February 23, 2017. “The Invention of Corn Flakes” by Mary Bellis, ThoughtCo, December 31, 2019. “Kellogg’s: The History of Cornflakes” by Joe Williams, Express, January 15, 2019. “The Surprising Origins of Corn Flakes” by Gillian Brockell, The Washington Post, March 14, 2014. “The History of Kellogg’s Cornflakes” by BBC News, February 16, 2016. “Will Keith Kellogg” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, September 27, 2019. “John Harvey Kellogg” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, January 17, 2019.