Why Were Cornflakes Invented? A question we all have wondered at some point. Those golden flakes of corny goodness that taste oh so delicious covered in sugar and mixed with milk. You know them, you’ve grown up eating them, and they’ve been around forever, right? Well, maybe not forever, but as long as anyone remembers, but does anyone remember where they came from, or Why? Keep reading to find out more….
So what exactly are cornflakes? Corn flakes have 3 main ingredients, milled corn, sugar, and malt flavoring. They’re made by toasting small milled flakes of corn. They were first introduced in 1894 by Will Keith Kellogg, in Battle Creek Michigan, but they weren’t made with corn. When Will Kellogg’s breakfast cereal made it’s first appearance it contained little to no sugar and was made with wheat.
But why were cornflakes invented? In 1894 when Will Keith Kellogg invented Corn Flakes he did it for his brother John Kellogg. John Kellogg wanted a healthy food for the patients at Battle Creek Sanitarium where he worked. Will helped John, but then decided he wanted to make it for a broader audience and add more sugar. John didn’t like this, which lead Will to file a patent and create the Kellogg Company. The patent was approved by 1896 after a legal battle between the brothers.
So, why were Corn Flakes invented? To make people healthy, but I like them better the way they are. So, thank you W. K. Kellogg for bringing corn flakes to the masses, this world wouldn’t be the same without them.