Kellogg's swaps rice grains for flour in UK Rice Krispies and Coco Pops

The recipe change

Kellogg's has stopped using rice grains in Rice Krispies and Coco Pops sold in the UK. On Tuesday, 3 November, a company spokesperson said Rice Krispies now use corn flour and rice flour, while Coco Pops use a blend of rice flour and corn flour in place of rice. The firm blamed "changing weather conditions" that have affected the quality and availability of some of the rice and grains used in its cereals. Dry weather in key rice-producing countries in Asia has reduced harvests and pushed up prices, the supply pressure behind the switch. The company said it is continuing to listen to consumer feedback on the updated recipes.

Allergen labelling

Wheat gluten is now an ingredient in both cereals, so the packs carry a "contains wheat gluten" warning. Before the change, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops were labelled "may contain gluten" because they were made in a factory that also handled other gluten-containing cereals. Under the new recipes, wheat must be declared as an allergen on the pack and shown in bold in the ingredients list. As a result, people with a wheat allergy or coeliac disease can no longer eat them. Prominent pack labels now draw attention to the allergen change on both products.

What Kellogg's says

Kellogg's said the change helps it maintain consistent quality while rice supplies are under pressure. A company spokesperson told the BBC:

“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 company also said both cereals still meet UK limits on fat, salt and sugar, contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners, and keep the same levels of fibre, vitamin D and iron. A spokeswoman added:

“The updated recipes have been carefully assessed for taste, appearance and texture, and we are continuing to listen closely to consumer feedback.”

A North American spokesperson told the BBC that Rice Krispies sold in the US and Canada will continue to be made with real rice, with no recipe changes expected.

Criticism and sales

The Telegraph reported that the cereals will no longer be made from whole grains of rice. A column in The Independent said the new cereals taste different and argued the reformulation could be a case for the Food Standards Authority, since the name has not changed. The same column pointed to Kellogg's 2024 Annual Report, which names rice as a principal raw material and says climate risks must be monitored, evaluated and mitigated. It argued that blaming weather rather than climate change avoided a demand for action. The Grocer trade magazine said sales of Rice Krispies are in decline, with value and volume both down, and that its Top Products Survey 2026 would show the figures in December 2026.