Kellogg’s replaces rice grains in UK Rice Krispies and Coco Pops

Kellogg’s has replaced rice grains with corn and rice flour in Rice Krispies and Coco Pops sold in the UK, saying dry weather in key rice-producing countries has disrupted supplies and pushed up prices.

A company spokesperson told the BBC on Tuesday that the recipes had been carefully assessed and customer feedback considered. The new packaging will warn that the cereals contain wheat gluten.

Kellogg’s said the products would continue to meet UK standards for fat, salt and sugar. It also said their fibre, vitamin D and iron content would remain unchanged, and that the cereals contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners.

The change is limited to the UK: Kellogg’s North American business told the BBC that Rice Krispies in the US and Canada would continue to be made with rice, with no recipe changes expected.

The BBC reports that drought, floods and heatwaves have affected rice-growing parts of Asia, while El Niño is expected to put further pressure on production in South-east Asia, which produces more than a quarter of the world’s rice. The World Meteorological Agency expects the weather phenomenon to last until at least 2027.