Chex
Chex is an American breakfast cereal brand currently manufactured by General Mills. It was first produced and owned by Ralston Purina in 1950, under the name Chex. In 1994, the Chex brand was sold to corporate spinoff Ralcorp, and in 1997, it was sold to General Mills.
History
Chex cereal can be traced back to Shredded Ralston, which was first produced in the 1930s. Its shape was one of the first distinguishing characteristics of Chex, and the Federal Trade Commission required General Mills to allow private label (store brand) Chex products to be produced.
Discontinued varieties
Although Apple Cinnamon Chex, Apple Chex Oat Chex Bran Cheeses, and Double Chex Wheat are less popular, many Americans still enjoy them.
Marketing
Wheat Chex was originally marketed as a cereal for the entire family, but by 1941, promotions aimed at children, such as Tom Mix comic book giveaways, had begun to emerge. In 1956, Ralston Purina announced that they would no longer be placing prizes inside the boxes or targeting children.
Tie-In Promotions
Sugar Chex varieties were popular in the 1970s in the United States and Canada, where they were marketed as Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Tom Mix
According to the company’s marketing materials, Ralston Purina’s Shredded Ralston (what became Wheat Chex) was originally known as the Tom Mix brand, and was marketed as “the Tom Mix Bite Size cereal that’s rich in ‘Cowboy Energy.'”
Space Patrol
Chex cereal was the primary sponsor of the popular TV and radio show Space Patrol from 1950 to 1955, with over 1,000 television episodes and 129 radio episodes featuring advertisements, promotional offers, and prizes related to Chex cereal.
The Chexmates
Chex ran a series of TV commercials in 1968 based on the adventures of The Chexmates, which featured John Erwin, Tommy Cook, and Julie Bennett as a muscular man named Chexter and an Asian karate expert Chop Louie.
Video games
Players take on the role of a Chex Warrior clad in Chex Armor in a series of first-person shooter computer games that use a modified version of DOOM’s IWAD (graphics, sounds, levels, etc.) and executable.
Chex Mix
Chex Mix is the base for a baked snack called Chex Mix, which combines various types of Chex with nuts, pretzels, and baked crackers. Commercial and homemade versions are available, and the dish is a popular holiday snack in the United States.
Puppy chow
It can also be used to make “Puppy Chow Chow” or “Chex muddie,” a chocolate-flavored version.
See also
Crispix, formerly known as “Chex” in New Zealand, is one of the most popular breakfast cereals in the United Kingdom.
References
Archived Kellogg’s page discussing their Crispix/Chex brands in Australia and New Zealand. Kelloggs 22 March 2003. “Raisin Bran Chex Cereal – MrBreakfast.com”. “Dumb Dora: She’s Not So Dumb”. Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
External links
Chex home page US Patents Method of making cereal food products (USTPO link:US Patent 2,338,588) (Google link:US Patent 2,338,588) Method for manufacture of cereal food products (USTPO link:US Patent 2,600,532) (Google link:US Patent 2,600,532) Apparatus for manufacturing a cereal food product (USTPO link:US Patent 2,743,685) (Google link:U.S. Patent 2,743,685)
When did Wheat Chex come out?
Chex cereals have been around for a lot longer than I thought, with the first version being Wheat Chex, which was introduced in 1937 by the Ralston Purina Company, followed by Rice Chex in 1950, and the Ralston cereal division being acquired by General Mills in 1997.
What was the first Chex cereal?
Ralston Purina’s cereal, Shredded Ralston, was the forerunner of Chex, with squares of shredded wheat first available in the mid-1930s and a red and white checkerboard background (which is still Purina’s logo today).
Is Chex a wheat mix?
Chex mix is traditionally made with a combination of Chex cereals (both rice and wheat varieties), pretzels, bagel chips, and nuts, but you can add whatever you want.
When was Chex Mix first made?
The mix, which combines the cereal with ingredients such as peanuts, pretzels, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder, was first published on boxes of Chex, then owned by Ralston Purina, in 1953. It has since become a staple for holidays and football parties.
Are Rice Chex healthy?
Rice Chex has 10% of the daily value for vitamin A, which is important for healthy vision and a strong immune system, according to KidsHealth.org. Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6 help your body get energy by metabolizing food, and the cereal has 25% of the daily value for these vitamins.
Is Bran Chex still available?
“@HardySpire Sadly, Multi Bran Chex slowly lost distribution in stores, and it was recently discontinued,” General Mills wrote on Twitter.
Does Chex cereal have eggs?
Chex cereal is egg-free, with no egg whites, yolks, whole eggs, or other egg ingredients in any of the nine flavors.
What are the pieces in Chex Mix called?
Traditional Chex Mix is one of the most undeniably wonderful snacks of all time, like an unexpected but welcome hug after a long day. Based on this snack metric, the one true order of Chex Mix pieces is:
- Wheat Chex
- Corn Chex
- Breadsticks
- Window (Square) Pretzel
- Circular Pretzel
Why is Chex Mix bad for you?
While you might expect Chex Mix to be bad for you because it’s a snack, it actually isn’t, and it may even have some health benefits, despite its high sodium content (nearly one-quarter of the daily recommended value per 2 oz.).
Are Wheat Chex good for you?
Wheat Chex (along with Cheerios) has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid; it’s flavorful and crunchy, and it tastes even better with fattier milk (I prefer 1% over skim). It’s a healthy cereal, but diabetics beware: it has a nice glycocemic spike.
Are Whole Wheat Chex healthy?
Wheat Chex, unlike other Chex varieties, are made entirely of whole-grain wheat, with only 130 calories per serving but 7 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. While the sugar content is higher, the overall nutrient profile of this cereal is still impressive.
Why is Chex Mix so good?
Chex Mix is a great snack because it’s well-balanced: each piece has its own texture, shape, and flavor, but they all complement one another and are coated in the same spice blend. Not all pieces absorb the flavor in the same way; some, like pretzels, are simply coated in it.
Where did Chex Mix come from?
Have you ever wondered about the origins of party mix? It all started with the invention of Wheat Chex cereal by Ralston Purina (yes, that Purina) in the late 1930s; however, the cereal was originally known as Shredded Ralston until 1950, when Rice Chex was introduced.
Who invented Rice Chex?
The Ralston-Purina Company came up with the recipe in the early 1950s to help move boxes of its signature cereals Wheat Chex and Rice Chex (there was no corn variety at the time). Since then, the company has gone through a few ownership changes and is now owned by General Mills.