Why were cornflakes invented?
CORNFLAKES are one of the most popular cereals and are used for other recipes besides breakfast foods too.
This is who invented cornflakes and why.
Who invented cornflakes?
The cereal was created by industrialist William (WK) Kellogg and his brother John in 1898.
WK Kellogg founded the Michigan company, which has also produced All-Bran, Rice Krispies and Frosted Flakes.
He passed away in 1951 at the age of 91 - surviving many of his children.
Why were cornflakes?
William's brother John Kellogg wanted food that would be good for patients at a sanitarium in Michigan where he was superintendent.
The strange way that cornflakes came about is chronicled on Kellogg's website.
"In a fortunately failed attempt at making granola, our company’s founder, WK Kellogg, and his brother, Dr John Harvey Kellogg, changed breakfast forever when they accidentally flaked wheat berries," Kellogg's officials write.
"WK kept experimenting until he flaked corn, and created the delicious recipe for Kellogg’s Cornflakes."
Kellogg opened the Battle Creek Toasted Cornflake Company in 1906 and carefully hired his first employees.
They created the initial batch of cornflakes "and brought to life WK's vision for great-tasting, better-for-you breakfast foods," according to Kellogg's.
Kellogg's brings the cereal to more than 180 countries across the world, according to the company.
"We still provide you and your family with better breakfasts that lead to better days, and we flake corn the same way WK Kellogg did back in 1898," the company wrote.
"It just tastes better that way."
The base ingredient of cornflakes is, of course, corn. Other ingredients include sugar, salt, barley malt extract and vitamins.
The cereal has a long and storied history - and was even used as part of a campaign against masturbation.
One of the leaders of the anti-masturbation movement was Dr John Kellogg.
He was uncomfortable about sex, according to Mental Floss, and never consummated his marriage.
All of his children were adopted.
“If illicit commerce of the sexes is a heinous sin, self-pollution is a crime doubly abominable," Kellogg wrote, according to Mental Floss.
John Kellogg believed that certain foods - such as cereal - could limit sexual desire.
Cornflakes became one of the morning meals that he hoped would serve this purpose.
Are Cornflakes healthy?
Cornflakes are not the healthiest breakfast that you can have.
This is because the cereal is high in carbs.
They are low on fibre but they can also be turned into a healthy breakfast.
You can try adding some fruit and low-fat yoghurt to them if you enjoy Cornflakes in your breakfast so much.