THE BIG GREEN SWAP

Sustainability writer RAE RITCHIE tells us the easy switches you can make to household purchases that will help save the planet...

FROM salmonella to BSE to the horse meat scandal, food controversies emerge on a regular basis.

This is nothing new. The first legislation attempting to regulate the quality of food sold in England was introduced in 1266 and covered the medieval staples of bread and beer.

Bread remained important in the nineteenth century, as did unscrupulous production practices; one 1848 study reported that every single loaf tested over the previous twelve years had been adulterated in some way.

In the present day, the Real Bread Campaign – which has an awareness week running from February 19-27 – is calling for the elimination of additives from bread as well as legal definitions of bread-related terms such as wholegrain and sourdough.

Furthermore, as with other foodstuffs, environmental concerns are shaping our attitudes towards baked goods in 2022 – so don’t just put bread on the table, put your sustainable values down, too.

GO VEGAN REDUCE FOOD WASTE

First wonky veg, now wonky bread. Earth & Wheat collects fresh but surplus or misshapen crumpets, focaccia and more from UK bakeries and saves it from going to waste by delivering it to your door. £6.99 for a 2kg box at earthandwheat.com

Order a plant-based family box from The Artisan Bakery and enjoy sourdough and multigrain loaves, white rolls and an array of muffins and pastries. Proof, if needed, that removing animal products from your diet doesn’t mean eliminating flavour and variety. £30 at theartisanbakery.com

EAT ORGANIC

As the name suggests, Biona Organic’s founders were committed to organic values from the start – and this commitment continues today. Its range is also vegetarian, often vegan, and includes rice, rye, millet and pumpernickel breads. From £1.59 in many supermarkets and at biona.co.uk