Without a doubt, grains are one of the most underrated foods. It may not be the healthiest choice, but it’s the perfect breakfast, lunch, or even dinner, and it’s well-loved by everyone. Kids love cereal because of its sweet flavors, charismatic characters, and the excitement that comes from having a splashing toy in your bowl out of nowhere. Adults, on the other hand, keep digging into their spoons for more because of the nostalgia and comfort it brings.
But the grain world has been rocked lately. The shortages are due to the war in Ukraine, and Americans have seen prices continue to rise as some of their favorite grains simultaneously become nearly impossible to find. Over the past few years, we’ve even said goodbye to Post’s frosted, alphabet-shaped Alpha-Bits after a 64-year run. Read on to find out which other grains are dying out, perhaps on the brink of extinction, and be sure to savor them while you still can.
This spooky cereal had a major hold on kids in the 80s and 90s, but is now a rare treat that only comes out of the shadows on Halloween every year. Prepared in the laboratory by General Mills, these monster cereals began to haunt the breakfast tables in 1971, starting with the chocolate notes of Count Chocula and the strawberry FrankenBerry. Boo Berry followed soon after, as did the lesser-known Frute Brute and Fruity Mummy Yummy cereals.
Since 2010, the three main cereals – Count Chocula, FrankenBerry and Boo Berry – have been available only as seasonal items. But, in 2022, Fruit Brute joined the team for the first time since 2013 for a monster mash of epic proportions, which also included new designs for all four boxes. Although the cereals and their spooky mascots are currently in hiding, we are already counting the days until next October, when we will all be together again.
Quisp is pronounced like “crisp” but if the ‘r’ has been replaced by a ‘w.’ Pursue. Say it out loud and tell us you didn’t smile. The “crispy, saucer-shaped corn cereal” was first brought to earth by its alien mascot Quisp in 1965, according to cereal producer Quaker. And ever since, earthlings young and old have been going crazy for it – the 4.8-star product review on the Quaker website speaks for itself.
But, in more recent reviews, fans are wondering where the Quisp-y flakes went. One reviewer said, “I’ve loved this cereal for years. It’s the best and I can’t find it anywhere here, my boxes are from Colorado. Please take it all over the country!” It looks like Quisp skipped more than a few grocery stores in his quest to share the cereal with the world. But do not worry. If you are having Quisp withdrawals, you can buy it online directly from the Quaker website.
In 2006, Kellogg’s turned America’s favorite waffles into a bite-sized cereal, only to ditch Eggo cereal in 2012. But in a Posting on Twitter on National Waffle Day in 2019, Eggo promised to bring the cereal back if the post received more than 10,000 retweets — and spoiler alert, the plan worked. Cereals, which come in Homestyle, Blueberry and Chocolate, have reappeared on shelves, much to the delight of breakfast-loving customers.
But now those same customers are wondering if he’s been discontinued again, because he can’t be found. An Eggo cereal fan posted a photo of the Homestyle variety on Reddit after finally finding a few boxes. “I searched for months to find them,” u/_JetJones wrote. “I was told they were discontinued and was told there was just a shortage. The only ones I could actually get were on Amazon for $15 + shipping. I found some at my grocery store local. [for] 2.99. Others chime in to say they’ve had the same problem, and even on Kellogg’s website, only Chocolate Eggo cereal can be found. The good news is that you can still get your fix of waffle cereal with the Waffle Crisp recently reintroduced if Kellogg’s won’t the eggo your Eggo.
Malt-O-Meal’s Blueberry Muffin Toasters is one of those no-frills cereals that forgoes the box and is served straight from the bag. So if you were looking for it among the batteries of other brands and couldn’t find it, maybe that’s why. Or, maybe it’s because the cereal is fickle, only appearing once in a while – and each time with a new look and a slightly changed name.
After being MIA for nearly two years, the brand announced in January 2023 that Blueberry Muffin Toasters would be back, but not for good. In response to one of many cereal inquiries on Twitter, Malt O Meal replied, “Hi! We are excited to announce that starting this month, Malt O Meal Blueberry Muffin Toasters are in stores as a limited time flavor! They are only sold in select stores Walmart and again for a limited time only. Please check your local Walmart stores for availability.” Look for it in its new purple packaging on your next Walmart run before it disappears again.
Kellogg’s Smorz Cereal is everything you love about classic dessert without the campfire. Despite the product’s rave reviews — any cereal with marshmallows is bound to be a hit — it’s had a turbulent market experience filled with multiple dropouts and resurgences. Smorz is supposed to be back in stores since 2020, but it remains elusive. On the cereal product page, a reviewer from Virginia states, “This is my son’s favorite cereal! Why is it so hard to find? Another consumer, using the name Smorz Lover, added, “Please make it widely available and save it. Literally the best cereal ever made!” If you want to try your luck, you can use Kellogg’s locator tool to find a retailer with Smorz in stock in your area.
Did you know that Kellogg’s makes even smaller mini-bites called Little Bites? They are advertised as “Half the size. All the flavor” and were introduced in Original and Chocolate flavors. But it seems that production of the Chocolate variety is falling apart. In a January 2023 review on the Mini-Wheats website, user bob57 writes, “Looks like these might finally be discontinued. Walmart hasn’t [sic] had them for years, and now Target says [they’re] no longer sold in this store. So nowhere to buy them???”
In a Reddit thread, the search continues. One customer hungry for small squares even went so far as to call Kellogg’s to speak to a representative. U/_teasybo relayed the message that Kellogg’s had not stopped producing the cereal but that distribution is now “limited”. The consumer also shared that Kroger is probably your best bet if you’re on the hunt.
The Honey Ohs! — originally made by Quaker but sold to Post in 2014 — are kind of like enlarged Cheerios but with a more aggressive honey flavor thanks to the little dots at the heart of each. Many consumers say that the taste will surprise you and they are a must try if you haven’t tried them yet. But that might be easier said than done. The brand has been operating more in the shadows for several years, and people have become eager to try and find them. In reviews on Post’s website, the last two comments read: “Please bring them back” and “I’ve always been looking for them.”
On Instagram, a Honey Ohs! lover says “I can’t find them in my stores. I was told yesterday that they were discontinued 😮😱😔”. In response, Post assured fans they weren’t being interrupted and directed customers to its product locator page to try and find the closest honey.
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