Honeycomb (cereal) 2075604 226033198 2008-07-16T15:06:15Z 74.70.125.232 /* See also */ {{Unreferenced|date=April 2007}} <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Honeycomb kid cereal.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Image of Honeycomb cereal from the 1980s]] --> '''Honeycomb''' is a [[breakfast cereal]] that has been made since 1965 by [[Post Cereals]]. It consists of [[honey]]-flavored [[maize|corn]] cereal bits in a [[honeycomb]] shape, and is [[wheat]] free. At the end of 2006, Post changed the formula for this popular brand of cereal in order to improve its health content. This change, although tested by Post beforehand to positive reviews, had received mainly negative reviews from consumers. Following this public outrage, in March 2007, [[Kraft Foods]] introduced a new "Improved Taste" version of the cereal, that, the company claimed, would improve "the cereal's taste, texture and appearance while incorporating key nutritional benefits to the product." This was set forth in a letter that was sent to many of the consumers who had complained to Kraft during the early months of 2007. The letter accompanied, in many instances, a complimentary box of the newly reworked Honeycomb. Two additional variations have also been created, '''Strawberry Blasted Honeycomb''', which has added [[strawberry]] flavoring and '''Chocolate Honeycombs''' which add a chocolate flavoring to the pieces. ==Advertising and marketing== Originally, the animated Honeycomb Kid[http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/ProductsPromotions/A-C/Cereals/] was the cereal's mascot and its jingle was borrowed from the song "[[Honeycomb (song)|Honeycomb]]" which was a 1957 hit for [[Jimmie Rodgers (pop singer)|Jimmie Rodgers]].<br/> During the 1980s, [[television commercial]]s featured a string of visitors to a clubhouse called the '''Honeycomb Hideout'''. The visitor would arrive, initially hostile, and exclaim a need for a "big" taste. The kids in the clubhouse would introduce the visitor to the cereal, winning the visitor over, examining the size of the cereal bits with a [[tape measurer]] and singing the [[jingle]]: :''Honeycomb's big, :''Yeah, yeah, yeah. :''It's not small, :''No, no, no. :''Honeycomb's got :''A big, big taste. :''A big, big crunch :''For a big, big bite! Its [[mascot]] became '''Crazy Craving''' in 1995, a wild-haired [[fictional character|character]] of an unknown yet rodentesque [[species]] that rabidly craves Honeycomb cereal and whom children in the commercials regularly transform into. Unlike many other cereal mascots, Crazy Craving is actually able to obtain the cereal. Crazy Craving is the cereal's current mascot. Prior to Crazy Craving, the cereal's former mascot had been The [[Honeycomb Kid]]. ===Honeycomb Hideout=== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Honeycombhideout.jpg|right|thumb|Honeycomb Hideout]] --> The '''Honeycomb Hideout''' is a fictional clubhouse used in [[United States|American]] television promotion of Honeycomb cereal during the 1970s and 1980s. The shack was about 8 ft by 8 ft in size and built of scrap [[lumber]]. At the Honeycomb Hideout, neighborhood kids would gather, typically two boys and two girls, with the main activity centered on eating Honeycomb cereal. The Honeycomb Hideout was home to a [[robot]]. In later commercials, the Hideout would be terrorized by threatening musclemen (the most notorious of them being [[André the Giant]]), who would invariably proclaim "My name is big ____, and I want a big cereal!" and attempt to rob the Honeycomb Hideout but would become more amiable after being fed cereal. At some point, the kids would break out into the signature song: ''"Honeycomb's big...yeah yeah yeah!'' ''It's not small...no no no!'' ''Honeycomb's got...a big big bite!'' ''Big big taste in a big big bite!"'' During the 1980s, a club for children existed. It was titled the '''Honeycomb Hideout Club''' in which members received badges, membership cards and the like. ===Bernard, the bee boy=== A more recent commercial introduces Bernard, the boy who was raised by bees. He is found and attempted to be [[socialize]]d. Although he had clearly been a feral child, he apparently can't argue the fact that he is a 'bee' not a 'boy,' but he enjoys honeycombs. In a later commercial, a man gives a [[safari]]-like tour for the bee boy, luring him with honeycombs. ==Ingredients== As per the product's ingredient list, it is made of: CORN FLOUR AND BRAN BLEND (CORN FLOUR, WHOLE GRAIN CORN FLOUR, CORN BRAN), SUGAR, WHOLE GRAIN OAT FLOUR, HONEY, SALT, YELLOW 5, BHT ADDED TO PACKAGING MATERIAL TO PRESERVE PRODUCT FRESHNESS. VITAMINS & MINERALS: NIACINAMIDE (B VITAMIN), REDUCED IRON, ZINC OXIDE (SOURCE OF ZINC), VITAMIN B6, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), FOLIC ACID (B VITAMIN), VITAMIN B12, VITAMIN D. Recently, "Bran Blend," defined as whole grain corn flour and corn bran, has been added to the ingredient list. This has tripled the fiber content (from originally 1g to 3g per serving) and put the cereal in Kraft's [[Sensible Solution]] program. Aficionados of Honeycomb cereal were able to immediately taste the difference. Post registered many calls of complaints from Honeycomb fans after the change{{Fact|date=April 2007}}. While many Honeycomb fans have been assuaged with the following change, some insist the original flavor is better. wow im ausome. ==External links== * [http://www.cereal.com/Breakfast-Cereals/honeycomb.htm Cereal.com] - Honeycomb cereal information including Honeycomb snack recipes. * [http://www.kraftfoods.com/postcereals/cereal_honeycomb.html Kraft Foods] * [http://www.kraftfoods.com/PostCereals/main.aspx?s=product&m=product/product_display&Product=4300011171&U3=******4300011171***Kraft Kraft Foods nutritional information for Honeycomb cereal] * [http://www.foodfacts.com/members/item_info.cfm?id=1542 Food Facts] - Older nutritional information for Honeycomb cereal * [http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/632.html History and description of Honeycomb cereal and its marketing identity] - includes photos and a recollection of the Honeycomb Hideout [[Category:Post Cereals brands]] [[Category:Fictional secret bases|Honeycomb Hideout, The]] [[Category:Breakfast cereals]] [[Category:1965 introductions]]