Weather Disruption Forces Kellogg to Remove Rice From UK Breakfast Cereals
Changing weather conditions in key producing countries in Asia have disrupted supplies, forcing breakfast cereal giant Kellogg’s to remove rice grains from its Rice Krispies and Coco Pops sold in the UK, bcc.com reported.
The company has replaced rice grains in Rice Krispies with rice flour, while Coco Pops now use a blend of rice flour and corn flour, according to coverage by The Grocer. Crops in Asia have faced severe droughts, floods, and heatwaves linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which the World Meteorological Agency expects to persist until at least 2027.
The recipe adjustments help “maintain consistent quality at a time when changing weather conditions are affecting the quality and availability of some of the rice and grains used in our cereals,” a Kellogg’s spokesperson told bcc.com. The firm noted that the updated formulations were “carefully assessed” while taking customer feedback into consideration.
Allergen Warnings Added as Wheat Gluten Enters New Recipes
The shift to flour-based ingredients means that both Rice Krispies and Coco Pops now contain wheat gluten. Previously, the cereals carried a “may contain gluten” warning due to factory cross-contamination risks, but wheat must now be highlighted in bold on packaging as an explicit allergen.
Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of the allergy charity Natasha’s Foundation, told The Grocer that it was a “shame that these popular cereals will no longer be a safe breakfast option for people with a wheat allergy or coeliac disease.” They added that the change “shines a spotlight on the challenges families with food allergies face doing a basic food shop, and their need for constant vigilance.”
North American Markets Retain Original Recipes Amid Declining UK Sales
Consumers in the United States and Canada will see no changes to their breakfast bowls. A spokesperson for Kellogg’s North American business told the BBC that Rice Krispies products in the US and Canada will continue to be made with real rice with no changes to their recipes expected.
The operational split of the parent company in 2023 separated global snack and cereal interests into Kellanova—now owned by Mars—while WK Kellogg’s operates independently in North America under the control of Ferrero. Meanwhile, the UK reformulation arrives alongside declining sales figures for Rice Krispies, with both volume and value seeing drops, according to The Grocer’s Top Products Survey.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kellogg Recipe Changes
Will Rice Krispies and Coco Pops taste different following the update?
Kellogg’s stated that the updated recipes were carefully assessed for taste, appearance, and texture, though the company acknowledged that small changes to long-standing products can feel noticeable to regular buyers.
Are other Kellogg’s breakfast cereals affected by the supply shortage?
No other cereal lines have been reformulated, and the changes are currently limited to Rice Krispies and Coco Pops in the UK market.
Why are North American cereals unaffected?
North American operations are managed by a separate corporate entity, WK Kellogg’s, which sources ingredients through supply chains that have not required a shift away from real rice grains.
Keep reading