Brown-colored Corn Pop image on Kellogg's cereal box stirs racial controversy

Kellogg's apologizes, will change drawing on cereal box

(Image via Twitter/Saladin Ahmed)

A small detail on the art work of the back of a Kellogg’s Corn Pops cereal box has received a lot of attention and stirred controversy about racial insensitivity. 

The box shows little cartoon Corn Pops hanging out and having fun in a shopping mall, but author Saladin Ahmed noticed that the only brown Corn Pop in the drawing was depicted as a janitor scrubbing the floor. 

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Ahmed took to Twitter to complain about the artwork. He tweeted on Tuesday morning, “Hey @KelloggsUS why is literally the only brown corn pop on the whole cereal box the janitor? this is teaching kids racism.”

The tweet went viral and drew outrage from social media users across the country. 

Kellogg’s officials responded on Twitter within hours by posting that the artwork would be updated and redone. The company did not announce what changes would be made.

Company officials also apologized, saying Kellogg's was committed to diversity and genuinely did not want to offend anyone.

Ahmed was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune and said he appreciated Kellogg’s quick response. 

He added it’s “a tiny thing, but when you see your kid staring at this over breakfast and realize millions of other kids are doing the same."

Kellogg’s tweeted that new boxes would hit stores soon.

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About the Author:

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.