Special K is a lightly toasted breakfast cereal manufactured by the Kellogg Company. The cereal was introduced to the United States in 1956. It is made primarily from rice and wheat. The name was created by taking the K for Kellogg's and adding the word "special" to it for marketing purposes. Despite the name, Special K does not contain any Vitamin K and there was never a 'Regular K'.

Nutrition

Kellogg's Special K cereal original has 110 Cal per 29g cup serving. One serving contains 0g fat, 22g carbohydrates, 2g sugar and 5g protein. [http://www.kelloggs.ca/cgi-bin/klog-canada/fileBlob.pl?md5=37b6521f7f215906438da4332c241907]

In the UK a recent advertising campaign has focused on the results of a study run in collaboration with the Department of Human Sciences at Loughborough University requiring overweight volunteer subjects to replace two meals a day with a bowl of the cereal. [http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/specialk/challenge_proof.aspx Special K Slimmer for Summer Challenge] Perhaps unsurprisingly, "after 2 weeks up to 75% of subjects had slimmer waists and hips. The university’s scientists concluded that the majority of this was due to fat loss."

pecial K Bars

Special K bars are marketed as a low fat snack option to regular snacks. There are several varieties of Kellogg's Special K bars-apart from original, other flavors include: apple & pear, chocolate, orange & chocolate, raspberry & chocolate, peach & apricot.

pecial K Sustain

A UK advertisement for Special K Sustain was found to be misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority because it claimed to contain "extra protein and fibre", when it contained less than the original Special K. [cite web |url=http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_43353.htm |title=Adjudications |publisher=Advertising Standards Authority |date=17 October 2007 |accessdate=200809-30 ]

Ingredients

North American Market except Canada

Rice, wheat gluten, sugar, defatted wheat germ, salt, high fructose corn syrup, dried whey, malt flavoring, calcium caseinate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), reduced iron, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin B1), vitamin A palmitate, folic acid, and vitamin B12.

Canada

Special K original formula is different in Canada compared to the US. The Canadian formula has a different tasting flake which reflects the "Canadian taste preference" (according to the Consumer Relations department of Kellogg's in Canada) while the American formula is like the other related products but without nuts or dried fruits.

Canadian formula has the following ingredients:Rice, wheat gluten, sugar/glucose-fructose, defatted wheat germ, salt, malt (corn flour, malted barley), Vitamins (thiamin hydrochloride, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, d-Calcium pantothenate), iron, BHT added to package material to maintain product freshness.

UK

Rice, wheat (wholewheat, wheat flour), sugar, wheat gluten, dried skimmed milk, salt, defatted wheatgerm, barley malt flavouring, vitamin C, niacin, iron, vitamin B6, riboflavin (B2), thiamin (B1), folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B12. Cite web| url= http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/products/specialk/Cereal/special_k.aspx | title= Special K | author= Kelloggs | authorlink= Kellogg Company | year= 2008| accessdate= 2008-07-13]

Allergy InformationContains milk, wheat and barley.

Australian and Other Markets

Cereals (62%)(rice, wheat), wheat gluten, sugar, wheat flour, minerals (calcium carbonate, iron, zinc oxide), salt, barley malt extract, vitamins (niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamin, folate).

See also

*Kellogg's Special K2O Protein Water

Notes

External links

* [http://www.specialk.com/ Official website]