Brumby’s Bakery develops Pure Bake number-free bread range

Better Bread report and conducted a national research, on behalf of Brumby’s Bakery , has found 83 per cent of Australians, aged 18 and over, are concerned about addictives or numbers in the food they purchase.

The survey showed that the food addictive concerns were not limited to any particular group. The males surveyed were almost as interested in food that contains no numbers or addictives as females (91% vs 94%). Individuals living in non-metropolitan areas are equally as interested as those who lived in the metropolitan (93% vs 93%).

Brumby’s Bakery franchises have developed a completely numbers-free range of bread that does not compromise in taste, texture or shelf life. According to the author of the Better Bread Report, dietician Shane Landon, a majority of the individuals surveyed said they would likely to buy bread that contained no addictives or numbers (94%).

“People are increasingly eager to understand what’s in the foods they’re eating, particularly everyday foods, and it appears that concern is driving the interest in numbers free bread,” said Lane. “Up to 25% of the population believe they have a food intolerance, but more than 80% of respondents were concerned about food numbers. This appears to indicate general community uncertainty of numbers, rather than solely food intolerance concerns.”

Common numbers that can be found in bread are 471, 472e and 481, also known as mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids, acids, diacetyltartaric and fatty acid esters of glycerol, and sodium stearoyl lactylate respectively. They are used as emulsifiers and stablisers.

Brumby’s Bakery new numbers-free Pure Bake range demonstrates that bread can be baked without numbers. The range includes all white, grain and wholemeal breads and bread products that do not have added food ingredients such as cheese or meats.

“Brumby’s has been free of added colours and flavours, as well as preservatives for about seven years now. The elimination of all numbers is the final step for us to offer customers a completely additive free bread range.  No numbers, no worries,” said Dean Priest, National Operations Manager for Retail Food Group (owners of Brumby’s Bakery). Priest said Brumby’s Bakery had wanted to produce a completely numbers free range or bread and rolls.

“Our biggest surprise in developing and testing the Pure Bake range was that removing the numbers had no effect on taste, texture or shelf life. Customers will be pleased to note that there is no impact on the Recommended Retail Price,” said Priest.

The Pure Bake range is available from all Brumby's Bakery bread franchises across Australia.