Do you have any idea how many meals I have shared with Toucan Sam and Dig ‘Em Frog? The popular cereal characters are as much a part of pop culture as the hula-hoop and Monopoly… and now (sniff, sniff) they are being (cough) phased (wheeze) out.
Sad, but true. According to the Kellogg Company they will stop using the characters to promote products “unless they meet guidelines concerning calories, sugar, fat and sodium.” In other words the characters will be axed from advertising campaigns if it is found that the cereal is marketed to kids and does not meet specific nutrition guidelines.
From the way the statement was presented it seems as though the changes are voluntary (technically they are), but the fact is children’s advocacy groups that threatened lawsuits initiated the move. The groups claim products marketed to children often contribute to obesity. According to the company, the changes will take place over the next two to three years, and they’ll only apply to half of the products Kellogg markets to children worldwide, including Froot Loops and Apple Jacks cereals and Pop-Tarts. Kellogg’s other cereals such as Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies With Real Strawberries made the cut (the regular Rice Krispies didn’t—tests show that they have too much salt). Which basically means that we will continue to see Tony the Tiger on TV commercials and on the front of Frosted Flakes boxes. We will also continue to see Snap, Crackle and Pop in ads for their cereal as well… as long as it’s for the Rice Krispies With Real Strawberries.
The president of Kellogg told news reporters the move is a “big change” and that the products not meeting the guidelines would be reformulated or no longer advertised to children.
I still can’t believe that Toucan Sam and Dig ‘Em are being phased out… I can’t imagine a variety pack of Kellogg’s cereals without them. I wonder if the big wigs at Kellogg knows how many mornings my brothers and I spent fighting over who would get Dig ‘Em–after my oldest brother called dibs on the one and only box of Frosted Flakes?
Will you miss them as much as I will?
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