Monday – Breads and Dough

SAY WHAT?

Now that you can see and read the ingredients, you may also be asking…

But Jo, Tracey, what do numbers 230, 45, 500, 471, 412, 466, 297 all mean?  Is vegetable oil ok?  Why is there Thiamine and Folic Acid in my wrap???

It’s pretty eye-opening when you start reading the ingredients, isn’t it?

LET US EXPLAIN

When you’re looking at an ingredients panel it goes in order of volume.  So, for example, by the look on the Mission wrap list there is more flour in this product than anything else.

Thiamine, Folic Acid

Standard 2.1.1 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code requires the addition of thiamin and folic acid to wheat flour for making bread (Australia only). This requirement was first mandated in January 1991 to minimise the incidence of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a potentially fatal neurological disorder caused by thiamin deficiency.

It is worth noting however, that Thiamin fortification of bread has not been formally monitored on a national basis since the standard was implemented in 1991.  This information directly comes from the FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) website.

So, basically they implemented this rule of adding synthetic vitamins into wheat flour for bread and cereals, but no follow on checking has been done since 1991.  Crazy!

These vitamins are synthetically man-made and mass-produced.

Vegetable Oil (Antioxidant 320)

Vegetable oil (seed oils) are extremely processed and hold no nutritional benefit value.  They can often cause a range of health issues such as inflammation, bloating, gut issues, bowel pain and further stomach upsets.

Mostly they are genetically modified and vegetable oil can be palm oil in disguise.  Which in our opinion is not right!

Unfortunately, vegetable oil is hard to avoid as you’ll find it in every bread/wrap dough type product unless you’re buying authentic loaves from a small business bakery.

Mineral Salts (450, 500)

These two additives are rising agents.  They’re somewhat safe for most people unless you have a sensitivity.

Iodised Salt

Mandatory iodine fortification was implemented in Australia in 2009 through the FSANZ code, which required the replacement of non-iodised salt with iodised salt for making all breads, except organic bread and bread mixes for making bread at home. Mandatory iodine fortification of bread was intended to address the re-emergence of iodine deficiency in some areas of Australia and New Zealand.

This is safe from an additive point of view.

Sugar

We’re pretty sure we don’t need to explain what sugar is… ;)

Spinach and Herb Seasoning (0.9%)

As you can now see, there is zero spinach in these wraps, only spinach seasoning – a whole 0.9% of it!

Colours (102, 133)

102 is the colour yellow, it’s name is Tartrazine.

133 is the colour blue, it’s name is Brilliant Blue

Both of these can be linked to aggressive behaviour, behavioural problems, difficulties in concentration, headaches, insomnia, learning difficulties, skin irritations and depression.

They are suspected carcinogens and asthmatics are recommended to avoid them.

Let us share a little story with you, we digress just for a second…

During 2007/2009 a government-funded study of 1 million pounds was conducted by psychologists at the University of Southampton into the effect of food additives on children’s behaviour.  Their findings led to major UK and European changes in food processing and labelling.

After the concluded, it was their recommendation that six artificial colours are removed from food.  These additives included Tartrazine 102.

This research led the European Parliament to implement changes as of 2010, that if any foods containing artificial food colours such as 102, 124, 110, 122, 104 and 129 woud have the following warning label on the packet.

“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

Unfortunately, no such warning label exists in AU and NZ.

Could you imagine, would you pick up these wraps if it had this warning label?

No, neither would we…

Okay, let’s keep looking at the Mission wraps ingredient panel and get back on track.

Emulsifier (471)

This is an emulsifier to maintain the oil and water emulsion so they don’t separate.  Not technically dangerous for our health, but it can sometimes be derived from animal products so you may like to avoid if you’re a vegetarian or vegan.  It can also be derived from palm oil.

Vegetable Gums (412, 466)

412 is guar gum which is a stabiliser and thickener.  It’s safe from an additive point of view.

466 is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose which is a stabiliser and thickener.  It’s also safe from an additive point of view.

Acidity Regulator (297)

Added to control the acidity of the wraps.  This is safe from an additive point of view.

Preservatives (282, 200)

282 as we mentioned above is Calcium Propionate.  It can be linked to developmental delay, headaches, migraines, inattention, irritability, itchy skin, skin rashes, learning difficulties, nasal congestion, neurological problems, sleep disturbance.

200 is Sorbic Acid which can also be linked to behavioural issues, skin irritations and asthmatics are advised to avoid.

So, there we have it, one simple wrap…  which we used to buy all the time.