BOOM! The Puffing Gun and the Rise of Cereal

round white ceramic plate filled with waffle
round white ceramic plate filled with waffle

Overview

The puffing gun was the workhorse of the breakfast cereal industry during the first half of the 20th century and made cereals like Cheerios and Kix. We turned a functioning, custom-made puffing gun into MOFAD's first exhibit, a mobile food education experience that can be displayed in streets, parks, plazas, and schools in New York and beyond.

BOOM! featured live action demonstrations of the puffing gun followed by tastings of freshly made puffs. Visitors learn about the science behind every puff and the puffing gun's key role in the larger narrative of breakfast cereal's rise from obscure health food to global, multi-billion dollar industry.

This exhibit debuted on August 17, 2013 at New York City's Summer Streets festival.

Summer Streets Festival

Traveling Exhibition

Exhibition Date

August 2013


Summer Streets Festival

Traveling Exhibition

Exhibition Date

August 2013


Summer Streets Festival

Traveling Exhibition

Exhibition Date

August 2013


Highlights/Installation Images

Watch the Pugging Gun in Action

Meet the puffing gun: a whirling, 3,200-pound machine that explosively puffs cereal.

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Stay updated on food culture with us

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MOFAD

Home

About

Contact Us

Visit

Plan your visit

Buy Tickets

Student Tours

Bloomberg Connects

What’s going on

Exhibitions

Programs

Get Involved

Work with us

Newsletter

Volunteer with us

Influencer Program

Membership

Donations

Membership

Social

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

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©2025 MOFAD. All rights reserved.

Stay updated on food culture with us

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

MOFAD

Home

About

Contact Us

Visit

Plan your visit

Buy Tickets

Student Tours

Bloomberg Connects

What’s going on

Exhibitions

Programs

Get Involved

Work with us

Newsletter

Volunteer with us

Influencer Program

Membership

Donations

Membership

Social

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

TikTok

©2025 MOFAD. All rights reserved.