Wendyl Wants To Know: Rosedale Cinnamon Fruit Loaf - $5.69 for 450g

These bites may contain natural ingredients but there’s far too much sugar in them to be considered healthy

I woke up last Sunday morning determined to make a yeasty fruit bread. I envisaged a cosy afternoon with a good book, a cup of tea and some fruit toast.

But, after scanning several recipes I found I didn't have all the ingredients I needed and ran out of time.

So when I popped into the supermarket I quickly grabbed this loaf thinking it looked real and the packaging told me that it was "made to a traditional Dutch recipe handed down over generations".

I got it home, popped a few slices in the toaster and then casually glanced at the ingredients list which is when two colours leapt out at me.

"I'd love to see where they buy traditional Dutch artificial colourings," I said to myself as I promptly pulled the bread out of the toaster and settled for a Vogel's cheese sandwich instead.

Rosedale Cinnamon Fruit Loaf - $5.69 for 450g

Fruit (43%) (Sultanas, contains SO2)

You would expect this loaf to be mostly sultanas as it is a fruit loaf. The S02 refers to sulphur dioxide which is a common preservative used in dried fruit such as sultanas. People with allergies to sulphites will want to avoid this.

Flour (wheat, rye)

Good to see there is a bit of rye in here which should add some fibre, but will also add something to the taste.

Water

Vegetable fat [(emulsifiers (471,472e, 322), acidity regulator (citric acid), antioxidant (320)]

This does not tell us what vegetable oil is used in this and it comes with quite a few additives, most likely to preserve it and stop it going rancid. The emulsifiers are mono and diglycerides of fatty acids (471), fatty acid esters of glycerol (472e) and lecithin (322). The antioxidant is butulated hydroxyl-anisole which is otherwise known as BHA. Some studies have shown evidence of cancer when this is given to animals in high doses, but low levels in humans show no significant increase in cancer risk. The State of California has listed it as a carcinogen.

Vinegar

This will be in here for flavour and perhaps as a natural preservative.

Emulsifiers (471, 472e, 322, 481) (contains soy flour)

As above with the addition of sodium lactylate (481) which is a sodium salt.

Spices

Salt

Glaze (milk solids, raising agent (450)

This gives the shine to the loaf and is made out of milk solids and diphosphates (450)

Colour (102,124)

Not happy about these colours. They are tartrazine (102) and ponceau 4R (124). Both were included in a voluntary phase-out called for by the UK's Food Standards Agency and an EU-wide health warning must now be put on any food or drink that still contains this colour as it is thought to cause hyperactivity in some children. I don't understand the need for colours in a simple fruit loaf.

My recommendations

If I was to make a fruit loaf at home it would take about seven ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, egg, yeast, fruit and spices.

This loaf uses 16 ingredients, many of which are additives.

One additive, BHA, has been listed as a carcinogen and two colours have been phased out in the UK for health concerns.

I'm also puzzled that the ingredients list does not include sugar, yet a 30g serving of this loaf will give you 9.7g which is just under two teaspoons of sugar.

If you want a piece of fruit loaf to toast and slather in butter, either make it yourself or check the ingredients list carefully.

Highlights

• Uses BHA, which has been listed in California as a known carcinogen.
• Uses two colours that have been phased out in the UK and must carry a warning on the label in the EU.
• Uses 16 ingredients, instead of 7 if you make this at home.

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