Help! Confused about flours!

beachgal · 06-06-2007, 08:05 AM

Okay, Chickies, I need help figuring this one out. Put on your detective hats and get ready, 'cause I think this is a doozy!

So, we all know what whole wheat flour is (the whole wheat grain is used, including germ and bran). We know what whole wheat pastry flour is (same as whole wheat flour, only they use a different kind of wheat that grinds up with less color and less bitterness). We know what (ick!) white (enriched) flour is (the wheat grain with the germ and bran removed, then enriched with vitamins to replace what was lost--it's equivalent to sugar!

).

Okay, got those down. But what in the heck is the "wheat flour" that I keep seeing in ingredient lists??? I usually see this in organic products, so maybe it's white flour that hasn't been enriched? I thought that sometimes until I saw some products that listed "wheat flour" and "white flour" together!

I"m totally confused...sometimes I buy products with "wheat flour" and eat them and don't get cravings...sometimes I do get cravings. (Sometimes I think I'm imagining things!

) I'm SO lost! Help?

tomandkara · 06-06-2007, 08:51 AM

"Wheat flour" is just a fancy name for white flour, as far as I know. Like when organic foods put on their ingredient list "organic cane syrup" instead of SUGAR. Makes it sound better when it really isn't. Unless it says "whole wheat", it's not whole grain.

Kara

cottagebythesea · 06-06-2007, 09:24 AM

Kara is absolutely correct.

Wheat flour is just a fancy shmancy name for white flour. Unless it says "whole wheat flour", it isn't.
That had me puzzled at first, too, until I checked it out.

beachgal · 06-06-2007, 09:39 AM

Okay...but why would a product list "wheat flour" and "white flour" in the same ingredient list?

Oy! These manufacturers...

Not that I'd be more likely to eat it on SBD, but organic cane syrup is better for you than high fructose syrup. Just like everything else, the closer to nature and the less processed it is, the better it is for you!

Of course, it's still sugar, as you noted, Kara.

But it doesn't mess up your body the way something scary like high fructose corn syrup does.

Just as an aside...

cottagebythesea · 06-06-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachgal

Okay...but why would a product list "wheat flour" and "white flour" in the same ingredient list?

Oy! These manufacturers...

Hmmmm, good question. Can anyone help us sort this one out?

Meg · 06-06-2007, 09:57 AM

To confuse you and make you think it's better/different than white flour?

ladybugnessa · 06-06-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meg

To confuse you and make you think it's better/different than white flour?

that's my thought.

just like folks prey on the concept that "organic" means healthier... not always.

wheat flour is just white flour it's not 100% whole wheat flour.....

beachgal · 06-06-2007, 06:18 PM

Okay...I can go with that--but I'd think it would be seen as some kind of misrepresentation...but we all know how often stuff like that is taken care of!

So...wheat flour might be the same as white flour. It might be a little better (as in honey is better than high fructose corn syrup but both are still sugar!), but it's definitely not as good as Whole Wheat flour.

So perhaps in things like the burrito I mentioned in the new SBD products thread, if it has whole wheat flour AND wheat flour (with wheat flour being the 2nd ingredient or lower), then it might be an okay occasional thing. But if it's just wheat flour, it should be treated as if it has the word 'enriched' in it?

femmecreole · 06-06-2007, 08:37 PM

Here are some articles to read:

Article 1
Article 2
Article 3

cottagebythesea · 06-06-2007, 09:20 PM

femmecreole ~ These are very informative articles,

! The mystery has been solved, especially in Article 2 where it specifically states " wheat flour is 75% white and 25% whole wheat."

ksk571 · 06-07-2007, 04:10 PM

This is very interesting and helpful....especially the articles referenced. I have a feeling that I will want to refer back to this sometimes. Would one of the moderators consider sticky-ing it somewhere for us?

Thanks!

beachgal · 06-08-2007, 01:46 PM

Thanks so much, Femmecreole! I thought I'd looked everywhere, but I bow in your direction in honor of you finely honed internet-searching skills!!!

darinesto · 03-28-2011, 05:41 PM

I have some pasta (spaghetti) that is semolina, durum. Is that legal for SB?
Dar

darinesto · 03-28-2011, 05:58 PM

looks like this is a very old thread.. didn't notice that.
Dar

CyndiM · 03-28-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darinesto

I have some pasta (spaghetti) that is semolina, durum. Is that legal for SB?
Dar

It's not, the flour has to be whole grain so either whole wheat or brown rice pasta.