Cereal for Dinner

Cereal for Dinner is a promotional campaign by Kellogg's that began in 2022 to encourage the consumption of breakfast cereal for dinner.

The campaign was criticized following a television interview with Kellogg's CEO Gary Pilnick who suggested that cash-strapped consumers should eat cereal for dinner to save money, dismissing the underlying concerns of food insecurity and inflation. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The suggestion was compared to the historical "let them eat cake" remark as "let them eat cereal". ^{[4] [5]} Their comments led to suggestions of a product boycott. ^[6] Despite the criticism, the campaign is ongoing. ^[7]

As Kellogg promoted cereal for dinner to mitigate high grocery costs, dietitians differentiated between most conventional breakfast cereals and a narrow category of truly healthy options (e.g., whole-grain, low-sugar varieties). ^[8] They advised that only these specific 'healthy cereals,' supplemented with other nutrient-dense foods like milk, fruit, and nuts, could align with dietary recommendations for an evening meal.

References

1. "WK Kellogg CEO Gary Pilnick: 'Cereal for dinner' is trending for consumers under price pressure". 21 February 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
2. O'Kane, Caitlin (27 February 2024). "Kellogg's CEO says Americans facing inflation should eat cereal for dinner. He got mixed reactions. - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
3. Meyersohn, Nathaniel (26 February 2024). "Kellogg's CEO: Let them eat Corn Flakes for dinner CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
4. Johnson, Brooks (28 February 2024). "Kellogg CEO criticized for saying more consumers could eat cereal for dinner as budgets tighten". www.startribune.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
5. Vargas, Ramon Antonio (27 February 2024). "Let them eat Flakes: Kellogg's CEO says poor families should consider 'cereal for dinner'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
6. Stevens, Ashlie D. (10 March 2024). ""Let them eat cereal": How accusations of "greedflation" fueled consumer ire against Kellogg's". Salon. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
7. "Kellogg CEO faces backlash over "cereal for dinner" comment". Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
8. "Is cereal for dinner a healthy meal? Dietitian explains amid Kellogg CEO controversy". TODAY.com. 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.