Smorz

Last updated
Smorz
Smorz Logo.png
Kellogg's Smorz Cereal (2016) 3.jpg
Kellogg's Smorz – Natural and Artificially Flavored Puffcorn Cereal with Marshmallows, in milk
Product type Breakfast cereal
Produced by Kellogg's
Introduced2003;20 years ago (2003) (reintroduced in 2015 and 2021)
Discontinued2013 and 2019
Related brands Krave S'mores
MarketsUnited States
Website https://www.kelloggs.com/en_US/products/smorz-original.html

Smorz is a breakfast cereal manufactured by the Kellogg Company, consisting of chocolate graham-flavored puffed corn squares and marshmallows, modeled after the flavor of s'mores.

Contents

Description and history

This breakfast cereal is described on the box as a "rich chocolatey graham cereal with marshmallows". The description of the cereal on the official Kellogg's website states that Smorz are "...crunchy graham crackers in a rich chocolatey coating with –of course –sweet marshmallows!" Although Kellogg's originally used plain white marshmallows for this cereal, Smorz currently contains marshmallows that are brown and white, intending to look like chocolate has been swirled into them.

The cereal was first released in 2003, but was discontinued in December 2013, intending to be replaced by a new s'mores-flavored Krave cereal. [1] [2] It was announced in December 2015 that Smorz would be reintroduced, and it was re-discontinued in April 2019.

On December 15, 2020, it was confirmed that Smorz will return again to store shelves, in response to a petition on the website Change.org and public campaigning on social media. [3] [4] It was reintroduced to markets for a second time in January 2021. [5]

At the height of production, thousands of pounds of chocolate cream and marshmallows were used each day to make Kellogg's Smorz. [6]

Criticisms

Smorz has undergone negative scrutiny surrounding its sugar content during its run. One serving (which is 41 grams or about 1.25 cups) of this cereal contains 18 total grams of sugar, with 17 grams of the total sugar being added sugar. This has led to the cereal being ranked by many media sources as one of the worst breakfast cereals for consumers in regards to sugar content with approximately 43.3 of the cereal by weight being sugar. [7] [8] [9]

The cereal has also been a target of complaint and opposition by food advocacy groups. In 2004, The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) sent a letter to National Geographic Society, calling for the removal of Hostess and Smorz advertisements in National Geographic Kids Magazine stating "It is unconscionable that the National Geographic Society...has chosen to cram National Geographic Kids magazine with advertisements for sugary cereals, candy and snack foods." [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cap'n Crunch</span> American breakfast cereal made by the Quaker Oats Company

Cap'n Crunch is a corn and oat breakfast cereal manufactured since 1963 by Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo since 2001. Since the original product introduction, marketed simply as Cap'n Crunch, Quaker Oats has since introduced numerous flavors and seasonal variations, some for a limited time—and currently offers a Cap'n Crunch product line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Mills</span> American multinational food corporation

General Mills, Inc., is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of branded processed consumer foods sold through retail stores. Founded on the banks of the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, the company originally gained fame for being a large flour miller. Today, the company markets many well-known North American brands, including Gold Medal flour, Annie's Homegrown, Lärabar, Cascadian Farm, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Totino's, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Häagen-Dazs, as well as breakfast cereals under the General Mills name, including Cheerios, Chex, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Count Chocula and the other monster cereals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S'more</span> Confection of toasted marshmallow and chocolate

A s'more is a confection consisting of toasted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker. S'mores are popular in the United States and Canada, and traditionally cooked over a campfire. In the realm of camping, s'mores are a staple dessert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raisin bran</span> Breakfast cereal containing raisins and bran flakes

Raisin bran is a breakfast cereal containing raisins and bran flakes. Raisin bran is manufactured by several companies under a variety of brand names, including the popularly known Kellogg's Two Scoops Raisin Bran, General Mills' Total Raisin Bran, and Post Cereals' Raisin Bran. This popular breakfast cereal is a staple in households all over the United States, in part because of its advertised nutritional value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frosted Flakes</span> WK Kellogg Co brand of sugar-coated corn flakes

Frosted Flakes or Frosties is a breakfast cereal, produced by WK Kellogg Co and consisting of sugar-coated corn flakes. It was introduced in the United States, in 1952, as "Sugar Frosted Flakes". The word "sugar" was dropped from the name in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellogg's</span> American multinational food company

Kellanova is an American multinational food manufacturing company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Kellogg's produces cereal and convenience foods, including crackers and toaster pastries, and markets their products by several well-known brands including the Kellogg's brand itself, Rice Krispies Treats, Pringles, Eggo, and Cheez-It, along with cereal internationally such as Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Frosties and Coco Pops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pop-Tarts</span> Brand of toaster pastries

Pop-Tarts is a brand of toaster pastries produced and distributed by Kellanova since 1964, consisting of a sweet filling sealed inside two layers of thin, rectangular pastry crust. Most varieties are also frosted. Although sold pre-cooked, they are designed to be warmed inside a toaster or microwave oven. They are usually sold in pairs inside Mylar packages and do not require refrigeration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rice Krispies</span> Breakfast cereal made by WK Kellogg Co

Rice Krispies is a breakfast cereal, marketed by Kellogg's in 1927 and released to the public in 1928. Rice Krispies are made of crisped rice, and expand forming very thin and hollowed out walls that are crunchy and crisp. When milk is added to the cereal the walls tend to collapse, creating the "snap, crackle and pop" sounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special K</span> WK Kellogg Co brand of cereal

Special K is an American brand of breakfast cereal and meal bars manufactured by Kellogg's. The cereal was introduced to the United States in 1955. It is made primarily from grains such as lightly toasted rice, wheat and barley. Special K used to be marketed primarily as a low-fat cereal that can be eaten to help one lose weight.

Post Consumer Brands is an American consumer packaged goods food manufacturer headquartered in Lakeville, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoa Puffs</span> Breakfast cereal made by General Mills

Cocoa Puffs is an American brand of chocolate-flavored puffed grain breakfast cereal, manufactured by General Mills. Introduced in 1956, the cereal consists of small orbs of corn and rice flavored with cocoa. Cocoa Puffs have the same shape as Kix and Trix cereal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoa Krispies</span> Cocoa flavored version of Rice Krispies

Cocoa Krispies is a breakfast cereal produced by WK Kellogg Co, coming both as a boxed cereal and as a snack bar with a 'dried milk' covered bottom. It is a cocoa flavored version of Rice Krispies that contains real chocolate. In Canada, Rice Krispies Cocoa is their variant of the cereal, with a lighter chocolate flavor. Off-brand "coco krispies" are sold by other companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chex</span> General Mills breakfast cereal

Chex is an American brand of breakfast cereal currently manufactured by General Mills. It was originally produced and owned by Ralston Purina of St. Louis, Missouri, using the name Chex starting in 1950. The Chex brand went with corporate spinoff Ralcorp in 1994. and was then sold to General Mills in 1997. Rival cereal company Kellogg's has the rights to the Chex brand in South Korea and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oreo O's</span> Breakfast cereal made by Post

Oreo O's is a breakfast cereal that consists of Oreo-flavored O-shaped pieces of cereal. It was conceived of by an Ogively & Mather NYC advertising employee and introduced in 1997 by Post Cereals. In 2001 the cereal got a new recipe with real creme filling. A variation of Oreo O's called Extreme Creme Taste Oreo O's contained Oreo filling-flavored marshmallows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MOM Brands</span> American breakfast cereal company

MOM Brands Company was an American producer of breakfast cereals, headquartered in Northfield, Minnesota. It marketed its products in at least 70% of the country's grocery stores, with estimated sales in 2012 of US$750 million. It operated four manufacturing plants, in Northfield, Minnesota; Tremonton, Utah; Asheboro, North Carolina; and St. Ansgar, Iowa. The company had distribution centers in Grove City, Ohio; Coppell, Texas; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eggo Cereal</span> Breakfast cereal made by WK Kellogg Co

Eggo Cereal is a multigrain breakfast cereal introduced in 2006 and reintroduced in 2019. It is manufactured by WK Kellogg Co, a spin-out of Kellogg's. It resembles Eggo waffles, a brand of frozen waffles produced by Kellanova and shares much of the same branding.

Mini Swirlz was a brand of frosted cereal produced by the Kellogg Company. The first flavor, Cinnamon Bun, was introduced in 2005, and was successful enough that two temporary flavors followed, Fudge Ripple and Peanut Butter. The cereal was made mainly with sweetened cornmeal, whole oat grain, and whole wheat grain, with a flavored topping that corresponds to the variety. The pieces in each version are shaped to resemble cinnamon buns. In 2009 Mini Swirlz was discontinued by Kellogg's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nesquik</span> Brand of products made by Nestlé

Nesquik is a brand of food products made by Swiss company Nestlé. In 1948, Nestlé launched a drink mix for chocolate-flavored milk called Nestlé Quik in the United States; this was released in Europe during the 1950s as Nesquik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuffed Puffs</span> American confectionery company

Stuffed Puffs is an American confection company specializing in chocolate filled-marshmallows founded in 2012 and based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

References

  1. "Do you like Kellogg's Smorz cereal? New Kellogg's Krave S'Mores cereal to replace discontinued cereal". 2013-12-31. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  2. Kulikowski, Lauren (September 29, 2014). "10 Favorite Cereals That Are No Longer Sold in Any Grocery Stores". TheStreet . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. "This Beloved, Discontinued Cereal Is Back". money.yahoo.com. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  4. Kiner, Deb (2020-12-16). "Kellogg's bringing back SMORZ cereal in response to online petition, social media pleas". pennlive. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  5. "Rumors Revealed: Yes, Kellogg's® Brings SMORZ™ Cereal Back". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  6. "Smorz Cereal | MrBreakfast.com". www.mrbreakfast.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. "Sugary cereals: Which are the 10 "worst?"". www.cbsnews.com. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  8. Sullum, Jacob (2011-12-08). "Wait, Honey Smacks Have a Lot of Sugar?". Reason.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  9. "10 worst breakfast cereals to feed your children". New Pittsburgh Courier. 2013-11-28. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  10. Ives, Nat (2004-07-21). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; As National Geographic explores obesity, critics question the food ads in its children's magazine". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-04-18.