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Kellogg’s Going Against the Grain: A-level Business In the News

Mike Mills

5th November 2026

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Kellogg’s has changed the recipe for Rice Krispies and Coco Pops in the UK.

The cereals used to be made from whole rice grains, but will now made from a mixture of corn flour and rice flour.

Kellogg’s says extreme weather has made some grains harder to buy and more expensive. This reduced the supply of the rice it normally uses.

The firm says the change will help it to keep the quality of its products consistent.

Some customers have complained on social media that the cereals taste and feel different, and that the famous noise made when milk is poured on is weaker. A few parents say their children now refuse to eat them.

Kellogg’s accepts that the noise may be quieter, but says it tested the new versions carefully and that the nutritional value is unchanged. The sound has been central to the brand’s advertising since the 1950s.

The packaging now carries a warning that the cereals contain wheat gluten.

Rice Krispies sold in the USA and Canada are made by a separate company, which has not changed its recipe.

Food manufacturers may face more problems like this. The El Niño weather pattern is expected to damage crops across South East Asia, a region that grows more than a quarter of the world’s rice. This is increasing pressure on businesses to find ingredients that are both reliable and affordable.

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Mike Mills

Mike is an experienced Head of Department, teacher and A-level Business examiner. Mike is also a popular presenter on tutor2u CPD courses and student workshops.