Breakfastcereal is a food product made from processed cereal grains that is often eaten as a breakfast in primarily Western societies. It is often mixed with milk, yogurt, or fruit. Some companies promote their products for the health benefits from eating oat-based and high- fiber cereals. In the United States, cereals are often fortified with vitamins but can also lack many of the vitamins needed for a healthy breakfast. A significant proportion of cereals are made with high sugar content. Many breakfast cereals are produced via extrusion.
The breakfastcereal industry has gross profit margins of 40–45%, 90% penetration in some markets, and steady and continued growth throughout its history. The number of different types of breakfast cereals in the U.S. has grown from 160 (1970) to 340 ( 1998 ) to 4,945 ( 2012 ). In this highly competitive market, breakfastcereal companies have developed cereals in an ever-increasing number of flavors. Although many plain wheat and oat based cereals exist, other flavors are sweet.
