Breakfast cereal

Breakfast cereal is a category of food, including food products, made from <a href="/facts/Food_processing/2vRFfCL9">processed</a> <a href="/facts/Cereal/ao2WcFdM">cereal grains</a>, that are eaten as part of <a href="/facts/Breakfast/7v3ogyrU">breakfast</a> or as a <a href="/facts/Snack_food/dCybSy0Y">snack food</a>, primarily in <a href="/facts/Western_societies/UQl4e7du">Western societies</a>.
Although warm, cooked cereals like <a href="/facts/Oat/wn3vnCnT">oat</a> <a href="/facts/Oatmeal/SetojSYJ">meal</a>, <a href="/facts/Maize/lJ6c5xMH">maize</a> <a href="/facts/Grits/XaD5SGYn">grits</a>, and <a href="/facts/Wheat/lrk6HdV3">wheat</a> <a href="/facts/Farina_(food)/rV9bRSGp">farina</a> have the longest history as traditional breakfast foods, branded and ready-to-eat cold cereals (many produced via the process of <a href="/facts/Food_extrusion/ISqCMRMq">extrusion</a>) appeared around the late 19th century. These processed, precooked, packaged cereals are most often served in a quick and simple preparation with <a href="/facts/Dairy_product/rGVJUHVb">dairy products</a>, traditionally <a href="/facts/Cow%2527s_milk/wDJBUHvy">cow's milk</a>. These modern cereals can also be paired with <a href="/facts/Yogurt/JoQjepa7">yoghurt</a> or <a href="/facts/Plant_milk/Q7L1zqPY">plant-based milks</a>, or eaten plain. <a href="/facts/Fruit/PBpuzk60">Fruit</a> or <a href="/facts/Nut_(fruit)/HvHpVkod">nuts</a> are sometimes added, and may enhance the nutritional benefits.
Some companies promote their products for the health benefits that come from eating oat-based and high-<a href="/facts/Dietary_fiber/Q9DXanDv">fiber</a> cereals. In the United States, cereals are often <a href="/facts/Food_fortification/Yr96v3Jj">fortified</a> with <a href="/facts/Vitamin/SnW0LYBL">vitamins</a>, but can still lack many of the vitamins needed for a healthful breakfast, and so initial marketing focused on making the new products "part of a complete breakfast". A significant proportion of packaged cereals have a high sugar content ("sugar cereals" or even "childrens food" in common parlance). These cereals are frequently marketed toward children (in television ads, comic books, etc.) and often feature a <a href="/facts/Cartoon/24v34f3m">cartoon</a> <a href="/facts/Mascot/JtJDx1s2">mascot</a> and may contain a <a href="/facts/Cereal_box_prize/TNLQGSug">toy or prize</a>.
Between 1970 and 1998, the number of different types of breakfast cereals in the U.S. more than doubled, from about 160 to around 340; as of 2012, there were roughly 5,000 different types (estimate based on the <a href="/facts/Mass_customization/UWu7jQ69">mass customization</a> of <a href="/facts/Online_shopping/KaWoKPBI">online shopping</a>). In this highly competitive market, cereal companies have developed an ever-increasing number of varieties and flavors (some are flavored like <a href="/facts/Dessert/1u079DYI">dessert</a> or <a href="/facts/Candy/X7kTJQAc">candy</a>). Although many plain wheat-, oat- and corn-based cereals exist, a great many other varieties are highly sweetened, and some brands include <a href="/facts/Freeze-dried/aURqwbrQ">freeze-dried</a> <a href="/facts/Fruit/PBpuzk60">fruit</a> as a sweet element. The breakfast cereal industry has <a href="/facts/Gross_profit_margin/xMlBlCU6">gross profit margins</a> of 40–45%, In 2009, market researchers expected the market to grow at a <a href="/facts/CAGR/wqWNy1fd">CAGR</a> of 7.4% (in the next 5 years); it has had steady and continued growth throughout its history.

Breakfast cereal open-in-new

Breakfast cereal