Rice Krispies and Coco Pops no longer contain whole rice grains following a recipe change.
Kellogg’s, the company behind the popular breakfast cereals, said the change was due to “changing weather conditions” affecting the quality and availability of rice.
Rice Krispies now use rice flour instead of whole rice, while Coco Pops are made from a blend of rice and corn flour.
Under the new recipes, the cereals now also contain wheat gluten, meaning they are no longer suitable for shoppers with a wheat allergy or coeliac disease.
A spokesperson for Kellogg’s said: “We have updated the Rice Krispies and Coco Pops recipes, which are now made using corn flour and rice flour.
“This recent change helps us maintain consistent quality at a time when changing weather conditions are affecting the quality and availability of some of the rice and grains used in our cereals.
“We appreciate that even small changes to a much-loved product can feel noticeable and that’s why we have approached this with a lot of care and consideration.
“The updated recipes have been carefully assessed for taste, appearance and texture, and we are continuing to listen closely to consumer feedback.”
Kellogg’s said packs are clearly labelled to alert consumers to the presence of wheat as an allergen.
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Previously, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops were labelled “may contain gluten” because they were made in a factory where other cereals containing gluten were also handled.
Following the reformulation, wheat gluten is now an ingredient, meaning wheat must be declared as an allergen on pack and highlighted in bold in the ingredients list.
Both cereals now carry prominent labelling on their packs alerting consumers to the change in allergen.