When cornflakes & co. make you ill …

Who thinks about acrylamide, mineral oil components or glyphosate when buying cornflakes for a healthy breakfast?

In Austria, 47 products were tested by a recognized institute in December. Less than half could be recommended, over 25% contained questionable ingredients and pesticide residues.

Products for children in particular contain carcinogenic substances? And this in a country like Austria, where special attention is paid to nutrition?

Even worse: well-known brand products scored particularly badly. More marketing than quality?

How is acrylamide formed in breakfast cereals?

According to the EFSA, acrylamide is potentially carcinogenic. It is formed when cereals are roasted at high temperatures (>120 °C) – especially at 270-290 °C, as is the case with many industrial flakes.

Why so hot? Shelf life! Freshly pressed flakes spoil within a few days – industrially processed ones last for weeks. Health falls by the wayside.

Healthy alternative: make your own cereal flakes

So do we have to give up our beloved breakfast? Not at all! The good news is that there is a healthy alternative that gives you back control over your breakfast cereals. The solution is: make it yourself.

Instead of buying ready-made cornflakes, you can make your own fresh cereal flakes. All you need are whole grains (e.g. oats, spelt, rye, etc.) and a device to crush the grains. By crushing them fresh, you retain all the nutrients in the grain and prevent the formation of acrylamide – because you are not roasting anything, but crushing the raw grain. You can also use organic grains and know for sure that there are no pesticide residues such as glyphosate in them. Mineral oil? No way – you avoid industrial processes and packaging that cause these residues.

Homemade flakes allow you to get creative: Mix oats with nuts, oilseeds or dried fruit for your own individual muesli. You decide what goes into your bowl – and, above all, what doesn’t. This way you start the day with maximum nutritional power and minimum harmful substances.

Salzburger Flockenmeister – so you know what’s inside

There are practical helpers for anyone who wants to take the plunge and make their own muesli. One example of a high-quality flake crusher is the Salzburg Flake Master. This manual device effortlessly crushes all common cereals into fresh flakes – so you know what’s inside. The Salzburger Flockenmeister is made from natural materials (wood, stainless steel) and allows you to make your own wholegrain muesli in minutes. The self-crushing process preserves vitamins and enzymes, and you completely avoid the harmful substances mentioned above. No acrylamide, no glyphosate, no mineral oils – instead full of flavor and real confidence in your food.

Conclusion: Cornflakes and cereals from the supermarket may be convenient, but the price for this convenience can be high – measured in potential health risks. By switching to fresh, homemade cereals, you are protecting yourself from hidden pollutants and doing something good for your body. Start your day consciously and healthily – it’s up to you what ends up in your breakfast bowl!

Keywords: cornflakes, cereal, breakfast flakes, acrylamide, glyphosate, mineral oil, pollutants, health, cereal flakes, flake crusher, homemade

Hashtags: #cornflakes, #muesli, #pollutants, #acrylamide, #glyphosate, #mineral oil, #health, #breakfast, #wholemeal, #homemade

Sources:

• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – Acrylamide classified as potentially carcinogenic

• EFSA – Assessment on mineral oils: MOAH can damage DNA and cause cancer

• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – Glyphosate “probably carcinogenic” to humans

• ÖKO-TEST (Dec 2024) – Laboratory test of 47 breakfast cereals, many brands contaminated with acrylamide, mineral oil, glyphosate