Cornell home economists influenced American nutritional
habits by promoting the first nationally distributed cereal fortified
with calcium and vitamins. A research team led by Flora Rose developed
Milkorno, Milkoato, and Milkwheato cereals in the early 1930s. Nutritious
and also inexpensive, initially the cereal was sold exclusively to the
Federal Emergency Relief Administration for distribution to Americans
impoverished by the Depression. Home economists claimed that by substituting
Milkorno for flour and cornmeal, a family of five could eat on less
than five dollars a week. A magazine advertisement for Milkorno claimed
that First Lady
Eleanor Roosevelt used Milkorno cereal for meals at state dinners
in the White House. The Cornell researchers received nominal royalties
from cereal sales and shared its knowledge about vitamin enrichment
with commercial producers at no cost.
Affordable Meals with Milkorno
