Here is a list of the essential ingredients of bread:
• Flour
• Water
• Yeast
• Salt
It doesn't involve the use of any processing aids, artificial additives, flour 'improvers', dough conditioners, preservatives, chemical leavening or, well, artificial anything.
That is not the case for the majority of the bread produced in the UK. Most store bought bread is made in large factories using artificial additives and often large doses of salt and fat. High speed mixing, high levels of yeast and perhaps a lacing of enzymes are employed to force the dough to rise quickly, rather than allowing the bread to ferment and ripen in its own good time. These products may well then be sprayed with chemicals such as calcium propionate to prevent the growth of mould.
There are many reasons to support your local bakery and independent bread makers - not least of which is the fact that you will get a better loaf and your community will get a better deal. Alternatively, you can take the matter into your own hands and get in the kitchen and make your own. Nothing fancy - just real bread.
TAKE ACTION:
The Real Bread Campaign has a guide to Baking Real Bread at Home
If you don't have a bread maker, don't worry. Try: Tracey Smith's no fuss recipe for fabulous flatbread
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