Instant breakfast

Instant breakfast typically refers to breakfast food products that are manufactured in a powdered form, which are generally prepared with the addition of milk and then consumed as a drink.¹² Some instant breakfasts are produced and marketed in liquid form. The target market for instant breakfast products includes consumers who tend to be busy, such as students and working adults.²

Powdered instant breakfast has been described as a breakfast substitute, used as a quick meal replacement in place of traditional quickly prepared breakfast foods² such as bacon and eggs,¹² oatmeal and pancakes.

Carnation-brand Instant Breakfast (renamed Carnation Breakfast Essentials)³ was introduced in 1964.⁴ It is a powdered instant drink that is manufactured with protein, vitamins and minerals and sugar.² It is typically prepared with milk,² and is available in different flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.⁵ Powdered forms are marketed in individual-serving packets and in cans. Carnation also manufactures prepared bottled instant breakfast drinks in liquid form.