These visual representations of brands have gotten to the point where theyre world famous, and people who havent even gotten the chance to try one of these products probably know the image if not the name of these characters. Subscribers to our newsletter have been scientifically proven to be smarter, better looking and at least 50% more awesome than average. Any number of food mascots could make a legitimate claim to this spot. In the '70s, Continental launched a new ad campaign with the debut of Twinkie the Kid, a walkin'-talkin'-lasso-twirlin' Twinkie in cowboy gear. It wasn't until 1979 that the company would coin its famous tagline, "Pizza! But for our money, the Jolly Green Giant takes the cake or, more appropriately, the bowl of steamed broccoli. A year later, though, the NMAADC teamed with other Mexican-American advocacy groups filed a $610 million class-action suit for malicious defamation of every person of Spanish-speaking ancestry in the United States. In the food world, mascots were once one of the most effective marketing gimmicks. Learn the real story behind these famous faces, from Ronald McDonald and the Kool-Aid Man to the Trix Rabbit.Test your trivia skills with our, 10 Things You Should Know Before Drinking Mezcal. Inspired by the Native American legend of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, the artist, Arthur C. Nelson, painted "Mia" wearing buckskin, beads, and feathers, holding a tub of butter aloft. that Mr. Peanut's full name is actually Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe. It later announced a name change to Edy's Pie, paying tribute to one of the company's founders, Joseph Edy, and said the updated products would be released in early 2021. But surname misconceptions aside, without the longtime Cheetos character in the top 10, frankly, there is no list of iconic food mascots. debuted their friendly leprechaun mascot in the 1960s, commercials referred to him as Sir Charms. It was also revealed that Horatio Magellan Crunch is not a Captain at all but rather a Commodore, as his iconic blue and yellow uniform displays only three stripes. The National Mexican-American Anti-Defamation Committee (NMAADC) and Mexican-Americans in Gainful Endeavors (IMAGE) threatened organized boycotts of Frito-Lay products until the company ceased using what they considered to be a negative depiction. By the 1950s, he was starring in television commercials. A designer from Disney, Milt Schaffer, helped bring Prez's character to life using stop-motion clay animation and Poppin' Fresh was born. This is just about all you need to know: Quaker Oats Horatio Magellan Crunch captains a ship called the Guppy, and was born on Crunch Island in the Sea of Milk a magical place with talking trees, crazy creatures and a whole mountain (Mt. Holding a bowl of oranges atop her French-braided hair, Tropic-Ana represented Tropicana for nearly four decades. These marketing tools are worth the money spent on them because they build brand . and are consistent with other messaging. Our favorites are in the last couple of years, with the bee getting urban makeovers from stars like Usher and Nelly. In 2007, the company rolled out a new marketing campaign that made the new mascot, Ben, the chairman of the board. As it is, there's no shame in being the 11th best food mascot of all time. Popsicle Pete appeared in newspaper ads, Popsicle wrappers, and promotional giveaways, like the Popsicle Pete Fun Book, which contributed to the character's popularity and longevity. Of course, after more than half a century as the "Head Spokes-Elf" of Keebler (via PR Newswire), he and the rest of the Elves don't need us to justify their place in U.S. culture. Although we may call them by their common names, like "Cap'n Crunch," "Mr. Peanut," or "The Pillsbury Doughboy," these popular characters actually have real names and back-stories that span decades. Today, Poppin' Fresh has starred in more than 600 ads for 50 products, and when you poke his belly, he goes "hoo hoo!". Like several other food mascots, we've always known Buzz Bee, the iconic Honey Nut Cheerios spokes-bee, as just "the bee" from the brand. A spot featuring the Kool-Aid Man was included in Advertising Age's round-up of best commercials in 1975. Jack Box is the mascot for Jack in the Box. However, Mr. Peanut's funeral was still aired at the Super Bowl, and Baby Nutofficially became the new face of Planters. In 1928, Gerber held a contest in search of a youngin' to represent its baby food. That's why Coca Cola replaced the name of ZERO to 0 Sugar . Its ghostly mascot goes by the name Boo Berry too. Buck Logo by Grigoriou. Ernie and his pals make the brand's cookies and crackers in the famous Keebler tree, known as the, The smooth, sunglasses-wearing cheetah who serves as the mascot for, is named Chester Cheetah. Add in the fact the mascot's original voice actor, Chuck McCann, passed away in 2018 (via Entertainment Weekly), and it's easy to see why Sonny belongs in the lower half. Most often pictured is the patriarch of the Keebler clan, Ernest J. Keebler, or Ernie as his friends like to call him. Lucky Charms' mascot Lucky the leprechaun debuted in 1964, and General Mills claims it was one of the most expensive advertising rollouts to date. In the late 1950s, Ojibwe artist Patrick DesJarlait redesigned Mia with the intention of "fostering a sense of Indian pride." But residents in more than half the U.S. weren't lucky enough to have an actual restaurant locationin their state as of 2022, according to thecompany. Either way, while we'dnever deny Count Chocula's iconic status, we're bigger fans of several other cereals and their corresponding mascots, so we can't rank him any higher. Outside of a few notable exceptions, we focused mainly on long-running mascots (those used for decades or more), those created exclusively for a brand (so no Flintstones with Cocoa Pebbles) and omitted mascots based on a real person (like Wendy or Chef Boyardee).Without further ado, here is our ranking of the 35 most iconic food . A good brand mascot uses carefully chosen cues to use our intuition to convey . Mashed did some digging and uncovered the real reason many iconicfood mascots went away. Ultimately, in June 2020, Quaker Oats announced, "We recognize Aunt Jemima's origins are based on a racial stereotype." Over the years, this talented pitcher-about-town has surfed, jet-skiied, played guitar, and starred in his own comic book series and a computer game. Though the character was originally conceptualized in 1928, he didnt get his famous good cheer until a visual upgrade during the mid-1930s. In 2017, Hostess refocused its marketing to target millennial moms instead of their kids, and Twinkie the Kid rode off into the sunset. Tropic-Ana wasn't really given a second thought as she came to be during a time when racially-insensitive product mascots were the norm. He was soon given the boot in favor of Lucky, who to this day continues to be the spokesman for this classic cereal with marshmallows, or "marbits" as Lucky calls them. 5. Each mascot (one for every main M&M color) has its own distinct features and personality something demonstrated by a Q&A with each M&M character on the company website. His name? This tricky rabbits debut was in a commercial in 1958, when he started his never-ending quest to try the sugary fruity cereal. She may not rise into the top 10, but at this point in our list, there are only winners. To be honest, discovering some food mascots have actual names was a bit of a running theme in our research. He would eventually be called Lefty due to the fact that he is a left hand. In 2005, the American Psychological Association issued a resolution that all "American Indian mascots, symbols, images, and personalities"be retired because such symbols "[appear] to have a negative impact on the self-esteem of American Indian children." Before our research, we were under the impression the Coca-Cola Polar Bear mascots were exclusive to holiday season advertisements. We can't quite put our finger on it, but the brand satisfies our flavored milk cravings like no other and provides young consumers with a long-eared pal in Quicky the Bunny, to boot. In 1928, the Fremont Canning Company held a contest. was Rudy Prez, a copywriter who worked for a Chicago-based ad agency in the 1960s. Obviously, Punchy didn't win. White hair and a white goatee, white double-breasted suits and black string ties. He was originally portrayed as a terrifying old man with rat-like teeth and stringy gray hair who wanted to snag hamburgers. Beacuse when mascots get more popular than brand it causes a problem. You can still see the shape of its head in the logo. The three mascots, named for the sounds Rice Krispies make in milk, have been around since Kellogg's introduced them in 1932. Planters spiffed up Gentile's original by giving Mr. Peanut a top hat, monocle, gloves, and spats, according toContingent Magazine, and he remained that way for 104 years. Over the years, the Arctic animal has remained a popular symbol for the soda brand. With people seeking out healthier food options in the1980s and 1990s, though,snack cakes began to fall out of favor. Confession: before compiling this list, we thought Chester Cheetah's last name was actuallyCheeto. If you didn't know, the Cookie Crisp dog became a wolf in 2005. When she's not blogging, she spends her time having adventures and being generally creative. Originally created in 1933 by artist Vernon Grant, Snap, Crackle, and Pop first appeared only in advertisements for the toasted rice cereal. This includes Lefty the Glove, the helpful mascot for Hamburger Helper which may or may not be an actual hand (via Today). Leprechaun, but fans today know him simply as Lucky. In the early 20th century, these mascots which were usually cartoon drawings were often seen as amusing and endearing. in the 1980s and the cartoon cheetah continues to serve as the brand's main marketing focus. In the 1940s, Sicilian immigrant Anthony Rossi found success in New York City selling boxed fruit, according to The New York Times. Cheetos Logo. Our newsletter is only for the coolest kids. The character was created in 1963 and has been McDonalds cultural attach to kids ever since. In 1901, Cream of Wheat introduced its mascot, Rastus, a smiling Black chef. After winning $50 in a Pong tournament, he bought a one-way ticket to New York and slept in the ceiling of a pizzeria. The famous spokescandies fans know today didn't debut until 1960. A celebrity of sorts, she taught consumers everything they might need to know about bananas, including how to ripen them. He's kind of like the Chuck Norris of the beer industry. In 2011, the cartoon mascot got a 3D animation makeover. Kellogg's Smacks, also known as Sugar Smacks or Honey Smacks, was released in 1953. Like so many other cereal mascots on this list, Toucan Sam struggles to stand out from the crowd. Therefore, he comes in near to the bottom in our assessment. Chef Boyardee was a real person. Brand mascots are a key aspect of marketing food products. RACHEL . Crackle! A child named Kristine Tong won, naming the honey bee BuzzBee. The unusual commercial killed off Mr. Peanut and introduced a Baby Yoda-ish Baby Nut in his stead. With his toga-style outfit of leaves, green skin, and impressive stature, it's hard to miss the Jolly Green Giant, who's been a mascot for the Green Giant canned vegetable company since before it was named Green Giant. Big Boy is the mascot of a fast food chain by the same name. While some group mascots have been penalized on our list for a lack of individualized detail, the M&M's mascots don't have that problem. The company ditched the second stick and refocused its marketing efforts to target parents "to awaken the memories that most adults have of bygone summer days eating Popsicles and to transfer those memories to today's children," The New York Times continued. But when Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash before the Super Bowl, Business Insider reported that VaynerMedia temporarily suspended part of the campaign. "Though new to store shelves, Pearl Milling Company was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and was the originator of the iconic self-rising pancake mix that would later become known as Aunt Jemima," the company said in a press release. Marketing hasn't always been spot-on when it comes to food branding. He was first played by Willard Scott, who also played Bozo the Clown for a TV station in Washington, D.C., and eventually became the weatherman on "Today.". In 1890, Nancy Green a woman who was born into slavery, won her freedom, and became a cook and housekeeper to a wealthy Chicago family was recruited to portray Aunt Jemima at the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition. His signature line was, "How about a nice Hawaiian Punch?" The first voice actor for the character was Paul Frees, who's also known for voicing Boris Badenov in "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle." Of course, not everyone shares our twisted sense of humor, so that slightly amusing (if disturbing) fact is also what keeps the cartoon tuna in the middle of our list. Like so many other cereal mascots, Lucky is known for his distinctly insatiable appetite for a product in this case, Lucky Charms. A food product clearly needs to stand on its own two feet to achieve sustained success, butin an overwhelmingly competitive food industry,marketing and advertising departments are crucial. not a Captain at all but rather a Commodore, as his iconic blue and yellow uniform displays only three stripes, characters include Ernie's mom Ma Keebler, he famous mouse does have an interesting backstory. He was created by art director. As a tool used to increase brand awareness, it's tough to top the Kool-Aid Man, which is why the red, round-bodied mascot kicks off the top five of our countdown. In 1992, Punchy launched a presidential campaign with the tagline, "No one else has the punch." Fun Fact: Poppin' Fresh has appeared in commercials with some adorable human celebrities, including Maureen McCormick (a.k.a. Continental followed up with other anthropomorphized bakery goods, but Twinkie the Kid was the most popular. Poppin' Fresh (who actually has family members, too) earns bonus points for his body positive appearances. He was a stout, mustache-sporting, sombrero-wearing bandit who stole corn chips. Sure, the brown, vampire-adjacent character has been around for more than 50 years as of 2022, and certainly outranks the other Monster Cereals often advertised alongside his product. Raks! Within three years of his debut, 87% of consumers recognized him by name! In 2011, the cartoon mascot got a 3D animation. He lasted approximately a year before Lucky returned full time. He has captained the S.S. Guppy since 1963. Ernie and his pals make the brand's cookies and crackers in the famous Keebler tree, known as the Hollow Tree. According to a 2013 Wall Street Journal article, Horatio's home is Crunch Island, a fictitious place complete with a mountain called Mount Crunchmore. ", "As a global brand, we know we have a responsibility to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices," Mars said in the statement. Interestingly enough, Chester wasn't the original Cheetos mascot, as the cheese snack brand's mascot was initially a mouse (via Atlas Obscura). Brand Represented: Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. With his recent TV commercials, hes shown in full computer-generated 3D form causing all sorts of mischief, while purring Dangerously Cheesy in his cool British accent. He would go on to eventually speak the brand's famous tag-line, "How about a nice Hawaiian Punch?" We grew up with them on our TVs and in our grocery aisles. It was modeled after then-8-year-old Melinda "Wendy" Thomas. An 2015 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research foun d that rather than increase consumers' desire for a product, food mascots allow people to feel less conflicted about indulging in a food that they already wanted but would typically shy away from. "Speaking broken English, he robbed people of their Fritos, a reference to the 'Mexican bandit' stereotype in Westerns," the National Museum of American History explained. This was back in roughly 1916, and by the 1930s this guy was well on his way to being one of the most iconic mascots in history. They've gone through a few designs. But did you know the character is actually an orphan named Charles Entertainment Cheesewho,according to Insider, allegedly opened the business to celebrate kids' birthday parties because he never had the chance growing up? Kentucky Fried Chickens mascot is modeled after the real thing, Colonel Harland David Sanders, the companys founder. Prez was inspired to create a mascot made of dough who would pop out of Pillsbury cans after working with the refrigerated dough at home. was voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, who died in 2005. The mascot belongs on this list, for sure, but without any sort of slogan or notable quality? dons a red or striped stocking cap; and Pop! The marketing world has made some questionable decisions over the years especially when it comes to racist branding. Think: Tony the Tiger and the Keebler Elves. Let us take a look at some cute and cuddly examples: Cow Logo Design by Mypen. Chocos bear. Top Five Brand Mascots May 1 2023. Dig 'Em was a cool, baseball cap-wearing frog who appeared in ads and on Smacks packaging until 1986. He's never self-conscious about his soft, pokable tummy, or shamed for having a less-than-perfect physique. Toucan Sam's famously large orange-red-pink-and-black bill has helped him sniff out his favorite fruit-flavored cereal since 1963. In 1971, the company ended the campaign after people threatened to boycott the brand. For foods, with the convenient backdrop of packaging, came mascot design. If you too have a food business or a cafe that just needs a bit of a rebranding, an animal logo is a good idea. In our eyes, Count Chocula is kind of boring. You proved us right again. Fun Fact: Tony was up against three other candidates for spokesanimal in 1952 Katy the Kangaroo, Elmo the Elephant, and Newt the Gnu but his tigerness was voted most popular. Ferdinand Magellan was a legendary explorer who, like the Cap'n, spent most of his time at sea. Nesquik Bunny AKA Quiky. A "Rock N' Roni" predatory . The brand hoped that the introduction of this new character would help boost declining sales. Legendary voice actorMel Blancgave voice to the Frito Bandito. "This is an interesting idea," Luke Visconti of Diversity, Inc. told the publication, "but for me, it still has a very high cringe factor. The brand hoped that the introduction of this new character would help boost declining sales. After modeling for the brand in her early years, she worked as a nurse until her death at age 90. Voiceover actor Larry Kenney inherited the role from Chuck McCann in 1978. Over the years, Buzz Bee has gone missing to raise awareness of the world's declining bee population (viaPR Newswire)and partnered with Ice-T to encourage healthier lifestyle habits among Americans (via General Mills). It's not just the long tenure of the Trix Rabbit, which dates back to 1959 (via General Mills), that places it higher than most other cereal mascots in our eyes. He first appeared in a commercial on TV in 1961, and the narrator's famous catchphrase, "Sorry, Charlie," was born. Kellogg's Smacks, also known as Sugar Smacks or Honey Smacks, was released in 1953. first appeared only in advertisements for the toasted rice cereal. But that doesn't mean you're unfamiliar with its mascot, Big Boy, thanks to its memorable appearance in the 1997 classic comedy, "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.". Mr. Peanut has been around since a contest (held in 1916) to create a brand icon for Planter's, and he was first advertised in the Saturday Evening Post in 1918. That unsettling-yet-unforgettable maniacal grin has been producing nightmares across the U.S. since 2004, when the current, plastic-costumed incarnation was introduced to the world (via Slate). The famous Planter's character, Mr. Peanut, was the result of a nation-wide competition to create the company's new mascot. According to the company, founders of the original business, Converted Rice, renamed their product after a Texas farmer known as Uncle Ben, who was famous for his rice. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And, as Popsicle Industries President Rupert Walker told the publication, there was another problem: "People find the twin stick inconvenient. Does anyone know what Cap'n Crunch is an alleged captain of? Sorry, Charlie. Punchy first appeared in ads for Hawaiian Punch in 1962. Frankly, it's impossible to imagine anyone born in the past half-century being unfamiliar with the orange mascot's lust for the chocolate-flavored cereal. Regardless of what's under the glove, General Mills'choice to spotlight southpaws with the mascot in 1977 should be celebrated. First appearing in 1963 (via Britannica), Ronald McDonald was nearly as ubiquitous as the fast food conglomerate he represented. Use your brand mascot in your product packaging. Prez was inspired to create a mascot made of dough who would pop out of Pillsbury cans after working with the refrigerated dough at home. Other Popsicle characters showed up, too,but Pete was the official mascot for some five decades. His catchphrase is "Oh yeah!". And like the Old Spice Guy, the Most Interesting Man in the World is one of those guys every man wants to be. That was until 1987, when another artist, Oscar Grillo, re-conceptualized her as the human woman who now graces each bundle of Chiquita bananas we get from the store. The chocolatey, fang-toothed mascot was inspired by classic movie vampires. There's a lot of baggage associated with the image." He is a Virgo who enjoys starring in and doing his own stunts for movies, as well as training for tree-athalons, contemplating, and problem solving. Not unlike the Big Boy mascot, the titular Jack in the Box is hurt in our rankings by his lacking ubiquity across the nation. We found 20+ top brands (including Nestle, Colgate and Quaker Oats) accused of carrying racist brands that are making a name or branding change (5 more are making other changes). And her OffLimits team is all female. Mr. Peanut. Fun Fact: In addition to playing Bozo the Clown, longtime NBC and Today show weatherman, Willard Scott, was the first person to enact Ronald McDonald live on television. Photo: Onion / Flickr Creative Commons / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. With his vaudevillianvoice and delivery, he's a bonafide legend among food mascots. This week, PepsiCo announced it is rebranding its Aunt Jemima products with the name Pearl Milling Company. The mascot's popularity has even led to a video game, "Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool," being released in 1992 (via GameFAQs), and has also helped inspire a Cheetos restaurant collaboration with Anne Burrell in 2017 (via PR Newswire). Food mascots are some of the most recognizable images in advertising. VaynerMedia heavily promoted Mr. Peanut's funeral, scheduled for the third quarter of the Super Bowl. Many of the popular food mascots we know and love have distinct, real names that differ from the common titles we know them by. A drawing by middle-schooler Antonio Gentile, entered into a 1916 contest held by the company to establish a mascot, led to the creation of Mr. Peanut (via Smithsonian). General Mills rather rotund character was created in 1954 by Marvin Plotts, who was inspired by watching his son draw on a foggy window. 22. Over the years more flavors and Nesquik branded products would be released, but by far the most memorable introduction to the Nesquik line was its bunny mascot. 5) Dos Equis' Most Interesting Man in the World. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The original spokestiger, Tony is considered by admirers to be friendly, loveable, talented, and boastful, and is described as having a "corny" sense of humor (har har). The rest, as they say, is history. In 1937, Mr. Peanut appeared on his first billboard in New York City's Time Square. The white-haired, smiling man representing the breakfast brand is known by insiders as "Larry.". Frankly, we can't quite comprehend the corporate strategy behind Chuck E. Cheese's depressing backstory. Some may wonder what lifts Charlie the Tuna above Horatio the Bumblebee on our list. If youre feeling inspired by these 15 iconic examples, take a peek at the video below as we explain the ins and outs of mascots, and show you when (and when not) to use one for your own brand. Sure, the cartoon mascot, first seen in 1963 (via Today), has been imploring consumers to follow his lead to a bowl of Froot Loops by encouraging you to "follow your nose" for decades. It was also revealed that Horatio Magellan Crunch is. If you think that origin story is wild, wait until you find out where your favorite cocktails come from. It falls apart, it's messy.". To be perfectly honest, the number of food mascots we couldn't remember ever actually doing anything was fairly surprising like the recently retired mascot for Bumble Bee Tuna, Horatio the Bumblebee. With his flaming red hair and brand-appropriate red-and-yellow outfits, Ronald McDonald is one of the most iconic food mascots to date. People guessed celebrities like Humphrey Bogart and Elizabeth Taylor, but it was actually mystery novelist Ann Turner Cook. Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben's, and Cream of Wheat all received backlash for their use of, This week, PepsiCo said it would be rebranding Aunt Jemima products as "Pearl Milling Company. Frankly, we can't say we're huge fans of Little Caesars food. Cheesasaurus Rex. But as the third best-selling pizza restaurant in the U.S. in 2021, it's clear our subjective opinion isn't relevant to the company's or its mascot's standing in the world. But snob or not, no one can pretend the walking, talking peanut mascot for Planters hasn't earned a spot just outside the top five on our list. to a friend. M&M's were first introduced as military rations during World War II in 1941. After all, where would Frosted Flakes be without Tony the Tiger's iconic exclamation regarding the cereal's greatness? The Vlasic Stork first appeared in a commercial in 1974 and proclaimed, "Vlasic is the best tasting pickle I ever heard!" Pizza!". As the civil rights movement progressed, the company received pressure and criticism for using what seemed like a Black servant to make sales. Named Quicky, the bunny was introduced in the 1970s. As retold by Mr. Breakfast, the mascot was purportedly first spotted in Yakima, Washington in 1978. Yet all things considered, we can't help but find the brown bunny a tad underwhelming. Cinnamon Toast Crunch's mascots are the Crazy Squares, which are the individual pieces of the cereal. Many of these changes came on the heels of the Black Lives Matter movement which put a huge spotlight . Boomer Bubble Gum. June 18, 2014 1:35 PM EDT. These tiny gnomes first appeared in print ads in the early 1930s and became fixtures on the cereal box by 1939. As his business then called Fruit Industries, Inc. burgeoned, he figured out a way to extract water from juice for making frozen orange juice concentrate, which he dubbed "Tropicana.". In a tweet, MinnesotaLieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan thanked the brand "for making this important and needed change.". Crimson-haired Pete was created by cartoonist Woody Gelman, who would later co-create "Bazooka Joe" in the 1950s for Bazooka Bubble Gum. In 1999, Cheerios launched a 20th-anniversary public contest to name the famous honey bee. Image via Complex Original. The first and only mascots on our list that come in a set. Evil escapes into space using a Big Boy-shaped rocket. In the 1950s, Continental signed on as a sponsor forThe Howdy Doody Show, and Twinkies were directly marketed to children. giggle after a poke in the belly, well we may call you a liar. Frankly, the fact that its entire tenure has been defined by snotty kids refusing to share their cereal means we're sympathetic to the Rabbit's dilemma. Source: Miscota. He's "gr-r-reat!" Planters ran a trademark contest in 1916, and teenager Antonio Gentile won. While it's certainly fun listening to your cereal try to communicate, we can't overlook the contrast between the food and its adorable, kid-friendly mascots meaning the three elves rank just outside our top 20. Ronald McDonald was the face of the fast-food chain McDonald's until 2014. Jemima's fictionalized backstory was that she was a loyal cook to a Confederate colonel and plantation owner, whom she helped escape from capture by cooking pancakes for Union soldiers. The original was a chicken named Doodles. If we liked Hamburger Helper more, Lefty would rank higher. For one, we respect the fact the Frosted Flakes mascot is essentially just a straight-forward, feline pitchman for the sweetened breakfast food. In homage to the distinctive sound that emits from a bowl of Rice Krispies cereal once it's doused in milk, Kellogg's introduced the company's first food mascots: Snap!