South Africans have taken to social media to share their disappointment, nostalgia and questions following PepsiCo’s decision to discontinue ProNutro in South Africa.

The company announced that it had made the “difficult decision” after introducing New Generation ProNutro earlier this year.

PepsiCo said some consumers felt the new product did not live up to their expectations, particularly when it came to taste, texture and mixability.

The company said it had explored ways of bringing back the original product experience, but was unable to recreate the taste and texture associated with the original ProNutro.

The announcement has prompted an emotional response from consumers, many of whom say the cereal has been part of their lives for decades.

One Facebook user described ProNutro as a childhood favourite, saying the original version was filling and could keep them going until the afternoon.

Another said: “Make a plan Bokomo. We need Pronutro!!!!”

Others questioned why the original recipe could not simply be retained.

“Why not just keep original recipe and ingredients?” one person asked.

Another wrote: “Why change something that wasn’t broken?”

The announcement also prompted a wave of jokes and disbelief, with one commenter asking: “Did you lose the recipe?”

Another quipped: “They lost Grandma’s recipe.”

Some consumers questioned whether the original machinery or production process could be restored, while others suggested that another company should be allowed to take over production.

“Why not sell the business to somebody who can afford to fix the machines? Or sell the recipe itself? There are other options!” one commenter wrote.

For many, however, the reaction was primarily about nostalgia.

One person recalled eating ProNutro from childhood through their school and army years, saying they had consumed it for more than 60 years and had only one bowl of the original product left.

Another said their children had grown up eating ProNutro, while several consumers singled out flavours including banana, chocolate and Honey Melt.

“ProNutro is part of our heritage,” one Facebook user wrote. Another described the announcement as “the end of an era”.

There were also comments from consumers who said the product had already changed significantly over the years, with some saying they had stopped buying it after changes to its taste or texture.

One person said they had switched to another cereal after finding the newer ProNutro less appealing.

The issue of texture was particularly important to some consumers. One Facebook user who said they work with children with disabilities explained that ProNutro had been one of the foods some children they teach could comfortably eat because of its texture, adding that the new formula was difficult for them.

Some commenters also raised questions about the environmental reasons given for the move to the New Generation product, asking why the original formulation could not be produced using newer technology.

There were also calls for PepsiCo to reconsider the decision, with consumers suggesting they would be willing to pay more for the original product.

“Some of us will still buy,” one commenter said in response to the suggestion of increasing the price.

Another simply pleaded: “Please bring ProNutro back. It’s not just a cereal, it’s a lifestyle.”

While some South Africans said they would miss the product, others were less concerned, with one commenter saying they had never been able to eat ProNutro and therefore saw “no loss”.

For now, PepsiCo says ProNutro will be discontinued in South Africa after its review of the product and consumer feedback.

The company has thanked consumers for their support of the brand over the years and directed questions to its Consumer Care Centre.