CHICAGO, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Introduced on breakfast tables across the country in 1961, Quaker LIFE cereal, one of America's most iconic brands, is celebrating its 50th birthday with families nationwide by offering them an opportunity to instantly win a grand prize of $50,000 or one of 50 other prizes.

"Turning 50 is a special milestone for Quaker LIFE cereal," said Karen Raviv, Director, Quaker Ready to Eat Cereals. "Made with whole grain Quaker Oats, Quaker LIFE cereal has been a favorite family breakfast option for both moms and kids.  We're using the brand's birthday as an opportunity to show our appreciation and reward families with a chance to win some entertaining gifts."

Promotional 50th birthday boxes of Quaker LIFE cereal will be hitting supermarket shelves across the country this month. Specially-marked boxes of Original, Cinnamon and Maple & Brown Sugar varieties include an official game message inside the carton that tells the consumer whether they have instantly won a prize for the whole family.  Prizes range from a home theater system to travel gift cards and digital video cameras.

Whether swimming in a bowl of cold milk or eaten straight out of the box, the just right sweetness and crunch of Quaker LIFE Cereal has been loved by millions over the years.  Quaker LIFE cereal was popularized by the 1970s advertising campaign featuring "Mikey," a hard to please four year old boy. Today, Quaker LIFE cereal remains a wholesome, delicious choice for kids and grown-ups alike, offering 18 grams of whole grains per serving and an excellence source of B vitamins to help convert food into energy.

For more information on Quaker LIFE cereal, including how to enter without a purchase, visit www.quakeroats.com.

About The Quaker Oats Company

The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 130 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition. Holding No. 1 positions in their respective categories, Quaker Oats, Quaker Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more information, please visit www.QuakerOats.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

SOURCE Quaker Oats