Crossword Genius

Population theorist originally had useful stats on cereal (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

malthus

'population theorist' is the definition.
(Thomas Robert Malthus)

'originally had useful stats on cereal' is the wordplay.
'originally' suggests taking the first letters.
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'cereal' becomes 'malt' (malt is a kind of cereal**).
The initial letters of 'had useful stats' is 'hus'.
'hus' put after 'malt' is 'MALTHUS'.

(Other definitions for malthus that I've seen before include "economist" , "Prophet of overpopulation, d.1834" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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