The Important Reason Cheerios Got Rid of the Bee Mascot

Honey Nut Cheerios have been a staple breakfast item of ours for as long as we can remember, and that's why when the BuzzBee mascot went missing from the box, we knew something was up. The buzzers at General Mills have removed the mascot from the box in an effort to raise awareness of the endangered pollinators and "bring back the bees" through a new campaign. In 2015, 42 percent of the bee colonies in the United States collapsed, and with more than 30 percent of all General Mills ingredients dependent on pollination, the company has decided to take action. The brand set up a website encouraging people to order wildflower seeds for bees to feast on at no cost and help reach its goal of planting 100 million seeds.

"As a General Mills cereal built around nutrition, helping pollinators get the key nutrition they need through fun, family-friendly activities like planting wildflowers is a natural fit," Susanne Prucha, director of marketing for Cheerios, said in a statement. "Our commitment to increasing the habitat for pollinators is one way we are continuously striving to be a company that not only makes products people love, but a company that pursues creative solutions to make our world a better place for all families."

Find out how to order your wildflower seeds here.