CHEAPEST BEST SIR,—It looks very much a's though the new
white loaf is a non-seller after being boosted into such a good starter. On Monday Dr. Charles Hill told the House of Commons that pretise information cannot be given till the December claims for bread subsidy come in from the bakers, but that it looks as though few people have given up the " national " loaf in favour of the white one. A Scottish MP added that in many parts of Scotland the deniand for the white loaf .has been so small that bakers have stopped baking it. As tax- payers we have to regard this news with gloorri. The " national " loaf is subsidised, the white loaf is not. Every ten 'per cent. switch of custom to the white loaf saves . £5 million a year of -subsidy—one of those subsidies that rich as much as poor receive, irrespective of need.
As citizens anxious to have a healthy popu- Jatihn, we may feel differently about it. As Dr.i.Charles Hill said, there is no doubt that
the " national" loaf is the healthier loaf. This has nothing to do with what is put into the tWo .loaves, for both have "improvers." I am told, both have added calcium. 'to the white loaf the Government adds a powder to make up for the loss of vitamins and iron milled out of the white flour. What really matters is what is taken out of the two flours. The finer milling of the white flour involves the loss not only of the indigestible bran but of the nutritious wheat germ, rich in protein.
But are these the considerations that guide the housewife ? Not a bit of it. She is con- tent with the " national" loaf because it really does not look appreciably less white; and be- cause it is' appreciably _cheaper. She is not nearly as healthy-bread conscious as 'she ought. to be. She still tends, to regard the brown breads that are deliberately enriched with wheat germ as once-a-week treats. Taking it all in all, it would be a very good thing if the Government gave the housewife not just freedom of choice but a little advice on wise choosing. They did' it in war time with many things. In the peace it seems even more necessary, for the staff of life has become the stodge of life where white breads are con- cerned.—Yours faithfully.
Previous page
