Mandatory Fortifiication of wheat flour for bread making... (not really TMX)

[~Narelle~]

Thanks for that link Karen3.  Like Kathryn, I'm a bit scared to have a look but the mere mention of neuroblastoma sends shivers up my spine. 

When I get a few spare minutes later in the week, I'll have a hunt around and make some phone calls.  I think that a way around this is to use bread improver but it's not always easy to buy.  Some brands of plain flour will also have a higher gluten content and so be OK for bread making.  From reading around it may be a longer rise is needed using lower gluten flours.

I need to also clarify that it's only bakers flour that will have it added, that is what Food Standards states but I need to find that out for myself.  That then leaves plain, organic and non-wheat as options. 

[Nay-nay]

That's just EVIL!!! I have just gone to all the trouble of getting our local little shop to source a 10kg bag of bread flour for me!!!!

[~Narelle~]

Nay-nay - you might be OK.  It only became mandatory today, so you might have got a bag that is non-fortified.

[I Love Bimby!]

It won't be in organic flour.

Phew - bulk organic bread flour that is my big splurge once a month.  Very expensive, but still a lot cheaper than store bought organic bread.

Chelsea, where do you buy this from? Does anyone know where you can get it online in bulk (5-10kg's)? I've had a quick google search and mostly only came up with 1kg bags. Would appreciate any help. Thanks

[faffa_70]

I know it only BECAME mandatory today but....we have been buying Mountain Bread online for ages in bulk (as we go through so much of it and I haven't had the time to put thought into making it  - too easy to avoid when it has no nasties in it lol) I ordered our last lot about 6 weeks ago and just noticed on the label today (on the last packet  ) that it has the folate listed in with the flour

If I knew it would last well enough I would go and buy my supplier out of 10kg bags tomorrow!!

[Meagan]

Wow  those cancer links are pretty scary!

[Hannah]

Good news! I have been using Laucke flours  so emailed them on Friday and have had a response which included the following:

In Summary: 
We do not currently add Folic Acid to our bread flours.
We do NOT intend to conform to the mandated requirement to fortify flour for bread making with Folic Acid.
 
We have advised the appropriate Ministers that we will not conform and have given them the reasons why we have decided to take this stance. We hope that they will understand, accede to our request and re-examine how their well intentioned desire to reduce neural tube defects may be better achieved, and choose to support Voluntary Fortification of individual foods. If they do not, unfortunately we will have to approach the media and hope that enough political pressure is applies to as to make all politicians take notice – though we hope it will not come to that.

Hopefully there are many other millers who take this stance!

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Thank you so much for posting this. 

[faffa_70]

THANK YOU Barb  - Now I will change my brand purely in support of this company that is willing to make a stand and so I also get my choice 

[cathy79]

Today I bought whole grain from my local health shop.  They sell it in a variety of sizes, up to 5kg.  So my plan is to mill my own flour  using TMX and add some gluten flour to make my own baker's flour.

[brazen20au]

good on you Laucke!

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Today I bought whole grain from my local health shop.  They sell it in a variety of sizes, up to 5kg.  So my plan is to mill my own flour  using TMX and add some gluten flour to make my own baker's flour.

Let us know how you go Cathy.  A couple of us have tried milling our own flour for breadmaking down here in Tassie with the TMX, but it has been very heavy and coarse.  I can use about 30% of milled grain in bread without it becoming too dense.  A friend (who is disappointed in her TMX milling results) is buying a grain mill so it will be interesting to compare.

P.S - Don't forget to soak or sprout your whole grains or milled flour. 

[Ceejay]

This letter was released on Aug 28th to Laucke's customers. 

http://www.madge.org.au/Docs/Mandatory-Folic-Acid-Fortification.pdf

[I Love Bimby!]

Thanks for that Ceejay! What a strong stance they are taking. I support them. It reminds me of the book "In Defence of Food" by Michael Pollan - he details a few scenarios where the government has taken a stance, however it turns out to be detrimental to our health like Margarine.  I sincerely hope that everyone involved in this MFF can be a big enough person to put a halt on the standard and investigate completely.

[Nay-nay]

Is there anyway of letting Laucke's know that we support them??