Weetabix ends debate around when to add your milk to your cereal

It’s the kind of thing that most of us never consider until it randomly springs up in a moment of desperate conversation: do you put your milk in your bowl before or after the cereal?

Such a simple practice shouldn’t be cause for disagreement but, well, of course it is.

Along with arguments over when to add milk to your tea, the cereal debate has been rending families and friends in twain for much too long.

Thankfully, serial cereal manufacturer Weetabix has stepped in to fan the flames.

James May aired his consternation on X - Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images

The debate had reached a fresh level of ferocity when James May, the former Top Gear host, posted on X: "Who, the bl**dy hell, puts the milk in the bowl first and then the cornflakes? Just seen this happen and it disturbed me."

Swift to respond, Weetabix shared a video under May’s post depicting someone pouring milk into the bowl before adding their Weetabix.

"Rules were meant to be broken James…" the cereal brand’s caption read.

"Lunatics," May responded, and it seems he’s not alone in that assessment.

"After some consideration (and watching the thoughtfully supplied video) I think I will continue putting cereal in the bowl first, then adding the appropriate amount of milk," said one comment.

A second added: "How do you know how much milk to put into the bowl, very strange behaviour."

Weetabix first, just as 75% of the population would have it - MarkGillow via Getty Images

"It looks more like two biscuits dipping their a*se in a milky jacuzzi,” said another. “That’s professional art, for ya!"

A fourth quipped: "It's a sickness."

Apparently, the milk-first approach is more common to our American cousins than it is on this fair isle.

Kellogg’s conducted some research into the matter, finding that 25% of Brits pour their milk in first. Apparently, the study also found that 41% of respondents “wouldn’t trust” someone who added milk before their cereal.

While Weetabix certainly stirred the pot by sharing its video, the caption suggests that the general rule is to add cereal first. What this confusion will do for consumer trust remains to be seen.