Kellogg's Laser Flakes Put the 'K' in Sustainability

bowl of corn flakes sans lasers
Credit: .HEI via Flickr.

What's that, you say? There is no "K" in sustainability? Precisely. But the folks at Kellogg's, in Battle Creek, Michigan, plan to start using lasers to etch their logo onto their corn flakes.

Really? Really, according to the PSFK blog. Kellogg's says it's tired of its flakes being confused with those generic 'fake flakes' on the bottom of the shelf at the supermarket.

My kids can't tell the difference, by the way. So if there's a logo toasted onto the flake, that's sure to help with branding. What a great way to waste energy.

I can almost hear my daughter now: "Dad, thanks for buying us Kellogg's corn flakes.

"I found grandpa's bifocals and noticed that 'Kellogg's' is written on each flake. What's up with that, dad?"

To which I would reply, "It must be your imagination, honey. I wouldn't buy a cereal that had such a large carbon footprint."

This is about as crazy as using corn to make fuel. Oh, wait a minute ...

For now, the laser flake branding program is just a pilot. But Kellogg's officials tell The Daily Mail the lasers could be pointed at Frosties, Special K, Crunchy Nut and Bran Flakes if the etching initiative is successful.

Let's hope this doesn't catch on, or we'll need even more coal-fired power plants for laser food branding. One more thought: Could this be an elaborate viral marketing hoax?