Soggy Weet-Bix a puzzle

Baje Charman, 13, doesn't enjoy breakfast since the earthquake. Photo / Michael Craig

Baje Charman is a Weet-Bix connoisseur.

For 11 of her 13 years she's been starting her day with a tummy full of the wheaten breakfast cereal - but that could be about to change, because Baje is adamant something's different about her favourite bowl of fibre.

"It's absorbing really quickly. I like having a lot of milk in my Weet-Bix and it's absorbing really fast, a lot faster than the normal Weet-Bix."

That means more milk goes on, and Baje says she has to eat faster than before.

"It tastes different too. I don't really know how to describe it - it's not as nice. It's also a lot harder to crush."

A bit like the All Blacks who appear in Weet-Bix ads, most days Baje does five. And she's tried to stay loyal. "I haven't really asked to try anything new. I'm just happy with what's in the cupboard because it's food. I'm a teenager."

But if something doesn't change in the Weet-Bix, Baje says she'll have to make a stand.

"I think I might actually stop eating it because personally I don't really like it."

Baje's not giving up quite yet, though. The Mission Heights Junior College student from Flat Bush, Auckland, has launched a campaign on Facebook called: "No More Australian Weet-Bix".

In February Sanitarium made 36 Weet-Bix workers redundant at its quake-damaged Christchurch factory and closed down the plant. Ever since, some of our Weet-Bix has come from Australia, but most from its Auckland factory.

Sanitarium New Zealand general manager Pierre van Heerden said he was interested to hear of Baje's concerns.

"Given that we haven't actually changed the recipe of our Weet-Bix, we would be interested to hear what Baje feels is different about her recent Weet-Bix purchases."

Most Weet-Bix consumed in New Zealand were still produced in Auckland from the same wheat Sanitarium had always used. There had been no change to the biscuit "hardness". But consumer feedback was important, and the company would investigate Baje's concerns.