Introduced in 1953,[citation needed] the cereal has undergone several name changes, starting out as "Sugar Smacks".

[1] In the early 1990s,[citation needed] the word "Honey" was dropped from the name and the product was then simply called "Smacks".

In a 2008 comparison of the nutritional value of 27 cereals, US magazine Consumer Reports found that both Honey Smacks and the similar Golden Crisp were still the two brands with the highest sugar content, more than 50 percent (by weight), commenting "There is at least as much sugar in a serving of Kellogg's Honey Smacks [...] as there is in a glazed doughnut from Dunkin' Donuts".

Consumer Reports recommended parents choose cereal brands with better nutrition ratings for their children.

[14] Conversely, the proportion of honey in the recipe could range from trace amounts to one-third.

Kellogg's announced a voluntary recall of certain Honey Smacks packages on June 14, 2018, due to the possible presence of salmonella.

[15] Although the recall included only packages with a specific range of expiration dates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later advised consumers to avoid eating the cereal entirely.

Also during 1966, promotional box designs were briefly introduced featuring characters from Star Trek.