The miller will sometimes speed up the aging through a chemical process. In addition, the FDA has mandated that milled grains be fortified with nutrients that are lost in the milling process. These include thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and iron. Folic acid, another member of the B family, has been added to the list as a prevention against birth defects. Malted barley is added to all-purpose and bread flour to improve flavor and to enhance the enzyme activity that converts starch into sugars.
Some folks like to have their whites their whitest, so along came bleached flour.
Please review our Legal Notice and Privacy Policy .