Kellogg's Raisin Bran: Hecho en Mexico

Look, you don't have to explain the global economy to me.  I understand the new international division of labor. I've read The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy. I'm also pretty well versed in David Harvey.

It seems to me that with unemployment being what it is, and with other cereal manufacturers fully capable of producing cereal in the U.S., it would make sense that an American brand such as Kellogg's with its identity tied to the Midwest and Battle Creek, Michigan, they'd be able to make their cereal here as well. While I realize that Kellogg's has had facilities in Mexico since the 1950s, I suspect that was originally primarily for the domestic Mexican market.

I'm not exactly a jingoist, and I believe patriotism is frequently misguided nationalism. I understand this is a very complex issue. I'm grateful for the relatively high-paying jobs their Mexican factory workers are now enjoying. However, I also believe that the future of our country relies upon there being good-paying jobs in a wide variety of sectors here.  Food manufacturing is part of that mix.

What is particularly odd to me is the conspicuous American flag that appears on the box. That has nothing to do with its source, of course.  It indicates that Kellogg's supports the United States Olympic Committee.  I'm guessing they have similar flags on boxes in other countries, although that doesn't obviously seem to be the case.

I'll be paying closer attention to the cereal labels in the future, and for now, Kellogg's Raisin Bran is off my list.

(Photo courtesy Peter Pearson at Flickr)