A new study has revealed the most popular breakfast cereals across the United States, with Froot Loops emerging as the top choice in 13 states. Researchers at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, analysed Google Trends data from January 2025 to January 2026 to identify the most-searched cereal in each state and Washington, DC.
Froot Loops, the multicoloured ring-shaped cereal, was the favourite in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia. Kellogg's Rice Krispies and General Mills' Cheerios tied for second place, each being the most popular in five states.
Other cereals also featured prominently. General Mills' Trix topped searches in Washington, DC, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Washington state. Cocoa Puffs was the favourite in Hawaii and Nevada, while Cinnamon Toast Crunch led in Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina.
Despite these rankings, cereal sales have been declining. According to market research firm Nielsen IQ, Americans bought nearly 2.5 billion boxes of cereal in the year to July 2021, but that figure fell by more than 13 per cent to 2.1 billion by July 2025. Concerns over food processing and sugar intake have been cited as reasons for the decline.
Artificial dyes, such as those used in Froot Loops, have also faced criticism. In 2024, protesters rallied outside WK Kellogg's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan, demanding the removal of artificial dyes. In response, Kellogg and General Mills have pledged to phase out artificial dyes from all products by the end of 2027.
