Can breakfast food be discriminatory?

It certainly seems that way, at least according to several people on social media who accused cereal giant Kelloggs of promoting "racism" with an illustration that appeared on the back of the Corn Pops box — and the company is now apologizing for its lack of sensitivity.

The picture in question shows a Corn Pop shopping mall (with stores names such as "Pop Shoppe" and "The Milky Way Arcade") filled with Corn Pop "customers." All of the Pops basically look the same except for one Corn Pop near the bottom — a janitor Pop who appears to have darker skin.

popshop.jpg

One Twitter user, Marvel Comics author Saladin Ahmed, thought the Pop color looked a little suspicious and took to social media to warn Kelloggs that their cartoon cereal shopping mall was teaching kids how to be racist.

Strangely, the Pop in question is also the only cartoon bit of cereal with a nose and ears. It's also not clear whether anthropomorphic Corn Pops do, indeed, have races or race-based divisions. Or, for that matter, whether cereal is even capable of shopping.

And, for heaven's sake — isn't Corn Pops made of corn? So wouldn't Corn Pops consuming Corn On A Stick be cannibalism?

But be that as it may, the dark-hued Corn Pop does stick out. And to their credit, Kelloggs responded quickly. The cereal giant promised to make changes to the back of the Corn Pops box so that all the cereal bits appeared equal.

"Kellogg is committed to diversity & inclusion. We did not intend to offend – we apologize. The artwork is updated & will be in stores soon," they said in a statement.