Today’s Spotlight is on Raisin Bran Cereal.
Raisin bran (sultana bran in some countries) is a popular breakfast cereal made with bran flakes and raisins. Raisin bran is manufactured by several companies under a variety of brand names. This popular breakfast cereal is a staple in households all over the United States, in part because of its advertised nutritional value. It’s a good source of fiber and important micronutrients like iron and folate. However, it tends to be high in added sugar.

Raisin bran is:

• High in fiber
• Low in fat
• Provides about 190 calories for a 1.25-cup serving.
• Made with whole grain wheat flakes.
• Made with crispy, toasted bran flakes.
• Made with sugar, brown sugar syrup, and malt flavor.

Raisin bran can be part of a healthy diet conducive for sustained weight loss.

Some brands of raisin bran include:

• Malt-O-Meal
• Kellogg’s
• General Mills

 

History

The Skinner Manufacturing Company in Omaha, Nebraska introduced the first raisin bran cereal in 1925.  They trademarked the name and were the only company to sell raisin bran for 17 years.  In 1942, Kellogg’s and Post began selling their own versions of raisin bran.

In 1944, the Supreme Court ruled that the name “raisin bran” was a description of the ingredients and not a name created by a specific company. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit concluded:

The name “Raisin-BRAN” could not be appropriated as a trademark, because: “A name which is merely descriptive of the ingredients, qualities or characteristics of an article of trade cannot be appropriated as a trademark and the exclusive use of it afforded legal protection. The use of a similar name by another to truthfully describe his own product does not constitute a legal or moral wrong, even if its effect be to cause the public to mistake the origin or ownership of the product.” Now, any brand or manufacturer may create their own version of raisin bran and name it just that.

Today, companies like Skinner can use the raisin bran concept without any trademark conflict.

Over 80 years, 312 different grain or cereal companies have made a version of raisin bran. The first ingredient in Raisin Bran cereal is whole grain wheat.

Other ingredients include:

• Raisins
• Wheat bran
• Sugar
• Brown sugar syrup
• Malt flavor
• Salt
• Added vitamins and minerals.

Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Original cereal contains 2% or less of malt flavor and salt.

 

Here are some interesting facts about Raisin Bran:

• Raisin Bran is the only cereal manufactured by three of the four big cereal companies in the U.S. that has the same name across the board.
• A single serving of Raisin Bran cereal can meet approximately one-sixth of your daily fiber needs.
• Kellogg’s Raisin Bran began using its “two scoops of raisins in every box” slogan in the late 1960’s.
• A 15-ounce box of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran contains between 201 and 241 raisins.
• Raisin Bran is a good source of several essential vitamins, including vitamins B6 and B12, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid.
• Research suggests that eating commercially produced raisin bran containing sugared raisins produces acid which can lead to cavities.

 

Here is a Recipe for Homemade Raisin Bran Cereal for you to try:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (5oz/142g) whole wheat flour
• 1 cup (3oz/85g) bran/millers bran
• 2 tablespoons ground flax
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons molasses, (maple syrup or honey will also work)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or any other flavorless oil
• 1/3 cup (2 ½ floz/71ml) water

 

Optional Add-Ins:

• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup dried fruit
• 1/4 cup nuts or seeds

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) then butter a 13 x 14-inch flat baking tray. Set it aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, bran flakes, flax, and salt.
3. In a small jug, combine the water, vegetable oil, and molasses.
4. Lastly, stream in the wet ingredients, holding some back initially. Mix with the back of your spatula until a sticky dough begins to form. If the mix is too dry add a little more of the wet ingredients until the dough comes together.
5. On a large flat surface, lay a tea towel underneath your greased baking tray (this will hold it in place while rolling). Transfer the sticky bran mix to the tray and cover with a large sheet of parchment paper.
6. Using a rolling pin roll the dough out to a very thin even sheet the size of the tray. Once rolled out, remove the parchment paper.
7. Bake the bran flakes for 45 – 50 minutes until completely dried out and crisp.
8. Remove from the oven and allow it to slightly cool. When you can handle the bran, break it into small bite size flakes.
9. Cover and store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 weeks.
10. Enjoy!

 

Consumption

On average, raisin bran is consumed 1.05 times per year. In 2020, 2.86 million Americans consumed 10 or more portions of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran.

Raisin bran is often marketed as a healthy breakfast choice. However, there’s no research that shows direct health benefits from eating raisin bran. The benefits of the cereal do not outweigh the risks. However, Raisin bran is considered one of the five worst cereals for your diet. It’s high in calories and sugar. One cup of raisin bran has 19 grams of sugar, which is almost the same amount as a Cadbury Creme Egg. Raisin bran is high in calories and sugar. It has more sugar per serving than Froot Loops, which has 17 grams of sugar. Raisin bran has 18 grams of sugar per 1 cup.

Here’s the nutritional information for a 56 g serving of raisin bran cereal:

• 186 calories
• 1 g of fat
• 3 g of protein
• 45 g of carbohydrates
• 18 g of sugar
• 7 g of dietary fiber
• 2 g of saturated fat
• 0 mg of cholesterol

Raisin bran also contains:

• 350 mg of sodium
• 48 micrograms of vitamin B-12
• Almost a day’s worth of folic acid
• Zinc, potassium, and vitamin A

Conversely, Raisin bran is a good source of fiber and important micronutrients like iron and folate. It also contains:

• Vitamin B-12, Folic acid, Zinc, Potassium, Niacin, Vitamin A

 

Celebrating Raisin Bran Cereal

National Raisin Bran Cereal Day is celebrated on November 15th. It’s a day to celebrate the popular breakfast cereal that’s been around for decades.

Raisin bran cereal is made with toasted oat or wheat flakes and plump raisins. It’s a good source of dietary fiber and has been produced by many brands since 1926.