N.Z. BREAD NOT BLEACHED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 10

N.Z. BREAD NOT BLEACHED

MINISTER’S REPLY TO HOUSEWIVES HIGH VITAMIN CONTENT ASSURED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 3. New Zealand bread is not bleached and, from a nutritional point of view, is not deficient in protein, as claimed by the Wellington Housewives’ Association. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts), made this comment in reply to a letter from the association to the Prime Minister, (Mr Holland), which was forwarded to Mr Watts.

Mr Watt”s reply was read to the monthly meeting of the association. It dealt firmly with the points raised by the association, the main ones being claims that the healthful wheat germ was removed and that the bread was bleached.

Mr Watts said in his letter that he had made inquiries from the director of Wheat Research Institute (Mr E. W. Hallett), who said that there was no true white bread in New Zealand today. Bread was not bleached. A high vitamin content was assured. The ordinary New Zealand diet was adequate and there should be no need to buy wheat germ to augument it. Mr Watts said that, 100 per cent, wholemeal was available for those who preferred it and the wholemeal bread could be obtained from any bakers. Housewives would purchase wheat and grind it if they wished. A domestic appliance for this purpose was on the market.

The association’s letter to the Prime. Minister was based on findings prepared by a member, Mrs G. Hallett, who is also secretary of the Wellington Compost Society. She obtained her information from her own observations and talks with several Wellington bakers.

Mrs Hallett claimed that the loose wheat germ was “worthless” as it was treated—probably by . sterilisation—to keep it from turning rancid. A baker had told her that it came from as far as Oamaru and could be kept for a long time without being touched by insects. This was a sure Aign that it was no good for humans either. This matter and the adulteration of other food stuffs by chemicals will be incorporated in a remit from the Wellington association to a round-table conference of housewives’ organisations throughout New Zealand in Dunedin next March.