Alpha-Bits

Alpha-Bits, also known as Frosted Alpha-Bits (styled as AlphA-Bits), was a breakfast cereal made by Post Consumer Brands, which contained frosted alphabet-shaped multi-grain (whole-grain oat and corn flour) cereal bits. Post Cereals also started producing "Marshmallow Alpha-Bits" in 1990.

Alpha-Bits cereal was invented by Thomas M. Quigley who worked for Post Cereals. The cereal was introduced in 1957 and was taken off the market in 2006. However, Alpha-Bits reappeared for sale in January 2008 with a new formulation, touting "0% Sugar!" as a "Limited Edition" cereal. The original recipe was reintroduced later in 2008. The cereal was substantially reformulated in 2017, with the "new and improved" Alpha-Bits having larger shapes than its predecessor. Post Consumer Brands discontinued Alpha-Bits in October 2021.[1] In April 2025, Post announced that due to popular demand, the cereal would return in limited quantities for a limited time in the fall of 2025.[2]

Varieties

"Marshmallow Alpha-Bits", introduced in 1990, contained frosted alphabet-shaped corn cereal bits and marshmallows. This variation of the original Alpha-Bits cereal contained marshmallow vowels: pink A's, yellow E's, purple I's, orange O's, green U's, and, later, blue Y's. Over time, the marshmallows underwent changes such as super-swirls and splits in their colors.

Appearances in the media

In a sponsor spot for the TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, Andy advertises Post Alpha-Bits through a swearing-in of deputy Barney Fife before saying his famous trademark line "I appreciate it and goodnight."

An episode of Family Guy features a cutaway gag in which Peter and Brian are sitting at the kitchen table; Peter is eating a bowl of cereal and tells Brian that there's a message in his Alpha-Bits which simply says "Ooooo". Brian looks up from his newspaper and points out they are actually Cheerios.

In an episode of The Simpsons called "Co-Dependents' Day", there was a scene where Cosmic Wars creator Randall Curtis gives Bart and Lisa a "Jim-Jam" cereal, saying that "It's just Alpha-Bits with extra Js".

In the 1985 Disney movie One Magic Christmas the cereal box is on the kitchen table.

This cereal can be seen in the 2003 movie Anger Management.

In the All Grown Up! episode "Interview With A Campfire", Tommy says "Coming from the man who communicates with aliens through the Alpha-Bits cereal".

In the Eric's Depression episode of That '70s Show, Eric is eating Alpha-Bits and as he takes the first bite, he notices the letters spell out "DONNA".

In season 2 episode 24 of That '70s Show, the words "Post Alpha-Bits" appears stamped on the side of a box that Eric is moving in the office of Price Mart with Red looking on.

This cereal appears in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, where Greg rushed to breakfast at the beginning of the film. He is seen pouring milk and Alpha-Bits into his mouth.

This cereal is seen in Pretty Little Liars when Emily pours it in her bowl to discover it's all As, referencing series antagonist "A".

In season 2 of Everybody Loves Raymond, Frank says to Raymond "I could have eaten a box of Alpha-Bits and crapped a better interview."

In 2000, a Marshmallow Alpha-Bits commercial featured the main characters from The Land Before Time film series.[4]

In the 2013 Rhett & Link single "Epic Rap Battle: Nerd vs Geek", the cereal is mentioned in the line "When I pour my Alpha-Bits, I get nothing but straight A's", referring to the nerd archetype of getting high grades.[5]

producttype	Breakfast cereal
currentowner	Post Holdings
producedby	Post Consumer Brands
country	United States
introduced	1957
discontinued	October 2021
markets	North America
website	postconsumer.com/alphabits

Varieties

Mascots

Taglines

Appearances in the media

See also

External links

References