Detective Pux delves into the history of cornflakes to uncover the reason why this popular breakfast cereal was invented. The story of cornflakes begins in the late 19th century with a man named Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. Dr. Kellogg was a physician and health food enthusiast who believed that a strict vegetarian diet was key to good health. He believed that meat and other rich foods were the cause of many health problems, including constipation and other digestive issues.

In an effort to promote a healthy diet, Dr. Kellogg began experimenting with different foods that could be made from whole grains. One of his early creations was a bland, dry cereal made from boiled corn. The cereal was not particularly popular with patients at his sanitarium, but Dr. Kellogg was convinced that it had great health benefits. He began experimenting with different ways to make the cereal more appealing, including adding sugar and other flavorings.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kellogg's younger brother, Will Kellogg, was working as the bookkeeper at the sanitarium. He was intrigued by his brother's experiments with cereal and began experimenting on his own. One day, while making a batch of cereal, Will accidentally left the dough out to sit overnight. When he returned the next day, he found that the dough had fermented and become very flaky. He decided to roll the flaky dough out and bake it, creating the first cornflakes.

Will Kellogg was convinced that this new cereal had great potential and he began to sell it under the name Kellogg's Corn Flakes. The cereal was an instant success and the Kellogg brothers soon formed the Kellogg Company to mass-produce it. The cereal became one of the most popular breakfast foods in the world, and it remains a staple in many households today.

In conclusion, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's desire to promote a healthy diet through vegetarian food options, led to the invention of cornflakes. His brother, Will Kellogg, was the one who accidentally left the dough out overnight, which led to the creation of the flakey texture that is characteristic of cornflakes. The cereal's success helped to establish the Kellogg company, which remains one of the largest cereal manufacturers in the world today.