How the All-American Breakfast Was Invented

A Tale of Bacon, Eggs, and Propaganda

Photo by Ali Inay on Unsplash

In the early 20th century, breakfast in America was revolutionized not by culinary innovation but by a masterstroke of public relations. This transformation, largely orchestrated by Edward Bernays, the father of public relations, turned a hearty combination of bacon and eggs into a symbol of American identity and health. Let’s explore how the “All American Breakfast” came to be, thanks to the power of propaganda.

The Power of Public Opinion

In the 1920s, breakfast in the United States was a simple affair — often just coffee, toast, and perhaps a bit of fruit. However, this was about to change due to an ingenious campaign led by Edward Bernays, who had already made a name for himself with his innovative public relations strategies. Bernays was hired by the Beech-Nut Packing Company, a major producer of pork products, to boost their bacon sales. Rather than simply creating advertisements, Bernays aimed to shift public opinion and habits, a task perfectly suited to his talents.

Bernays understood that to change what people ate, he needed to influence how they thought about food. He turned to the medical community for support, recognizing that endorsements from doctors would carry significant weight. Bernays reached out to his physician…