This is probably how urban legends get started. (Sent via the "feedback form" on the Kellogg's website.)

Dear. Mr. Kellogg:

For many years I have enjoyed your Raisin Bran, often with milk. But I was talking to a friend yesterday and she said that the "raisins" in your Raisin bran are not always raisins but sometimes PREGNANT TICKS!!!

I told her this was probably one of thsoe stories liek a woman who left her dog in the microwave but she said its true, her brother found a pregnant tick in a box of Kellogg's Bran Flakes and took it to a vet to have it confirmed. I didnt want to believe her but this morning when eating my Raisin Buds I bit into something that was very BITTER! WAS THIS A PREGNANT TICK?!?!

Please answer soon, as I am thinking about switching to oatmeal.

John Hargrave

Thank-you for your e-mail!

We received your e-mail today at 5:06:58 AM and appreciate the time you have taken to write us. Your tracking number for your e-mail is T2071549800071 if you ever want to refer to the message you sent to us in future correspondence.

The Kellogg Consumer Affairs hours of operation are:

Weekdays from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM EST.
Weekends from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST.

Your e-mail is very important to us and we will respond to your e-mail as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,
Kellogg Consumer Affairs
www.Kelloggs.com

Kellogg's is really on the ball nowadays: I've even got a tracking number for my ridiculous question. Now I can track my prank e-mail, like a Federal Express package!

They followed up the next day with this response:

John,

Thank you for contacting Kellogg Company by email. We apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced with Kellogg's(R) Raisin Bran cereal.

Because of the nature of your concern, we would like you to discuss this matter with a Consumer Specialist. Please contact our Consumer Affairs toll-free line at 1-800-962-0052 as soon as possible so that we can help you further. Our toll-free line is open between the hours of 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Consumer Affairs
Kellogg Company

I shot back this response:

Dear. Mr. Kellogg's:

I thank you for your form letter back to me, but since i do not have a phone (it was stolen last year in a burglery), i cannot call your Consumer Afairs number.

Besides it is a simple question: are the raisins in Kellogg's Raisin Bran really pregnant ticks, as my friend Becky tells me? If you continue to avoid giving me an answer, I must assume the answer is yes, that the "two scoops" are really "two scoops" of PREGNANT TICKS!!!

I'm not eating your cereal anymore because I'm afraid of catching Lime Disease!!! Somebody should call the President about this!!!!!

John Hargrave

Thank you for your most recent email.

We regret you are unable to speak with a Consumer Specialist. However, we can tell you that we put raisins in our packages and not "pregnant ticks" as you have been told.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us on-line. We appreciate your interest in our company and products.

Consumer Affairs
Kellogg Company

Well, that gets to the bottom of that mystery. Now I need to find out if the red specks on Kellogg's Apple Jacks are actually live chiggers.