by Pa Rock
Kid at Heart
Cereal companies had a big influence over children back in the Stone Age when I was growing up, particularly with the use of their child-focused cartoon characters who promoted their products. Three elfin characters, Snap, Crackle, and Pop, performed a catchy little jingle that became an indelible part of the soundtrack of life in the mid-twentieth century, and when they stopped promoting Rice Krispies for a moment and took a breath, Tony the Tiger was always close by to fill the noise void by reminding us of how GRRREAT! Sugar Frosted Flakes were. And then, as an added measure to insure that little kids screamed at the top of their lungs in grocery stores as their mothers tried to frugally go about the challenge of buying nutritious food for their families, the cereal companies began putting toys in the cereal boxes, particularly the sugary varieties with little or no nutritional value, so that kids would have their say in the selection process.
The toys in cereal boxes faded from the shopping scene several years ago, primarily because young children were putting them in their mouths and some choked to death when the cheap plastic trinkets broke apart and stuck in their throats. Cereal companies also began abandoning the practice to save money. Even toys in the popular Cracker Jacks went from plastic doohickeys to very tiny paper booklets - and as any child knows, BOOKS ARE NOT TOYS! It was the end of an era.
But stuff those lamentations, children of all ages, because toys in cereal boxes are about to make a comeback!
The WK Kellogg Company, the corporate parent of Snap, Crackle, Pop, and Tony, has announced that beginning this Sunday it will be placing toys connected to the movie "Toy Story 5" into special edition boxes of Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, and Corn Pops - none of which seem to be overburdened with excessive amounts of nutritional value.
Kellogg has said that "Toy Story 5" is a good fit with their reintroduction of toys into cereal boxes because the movie looks at the role of toys in a tech-driven world. Seriously.
Does RFK, Jr, know about this latest affront to child health and safety - and as long as children don't endanger themselves by taking childhood vaccinations, does he even care?
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