The Nasty Nine: Ingredients to Avoid in Commercial Bread

Bread Without the “Nasty Nine” Shipped Nationwide!

Bread is nostalgic. Comforting. Delicious. But not all bread lives up to that promise—especially the kind lining most grocery-store shelves.

Some packaged breads use added sweeteners, preservatives, emulsifiers, colors, and dough conditioners to create consistent texture, speed production, or extend shelf life. That doesn’t automatically make every ingredient unsafe—but it does make the ingredient label worth understanding.

At The Baker & The Cakemaker, we take a slower, more traditional approach. Our sourdough begins with organic, unbleached flour, water, sea salt, our 16-year-old starter, and time.

Every loaf is scratch-made, slowly fermented, and crafted without artificial preservatives, commercial shortcuts, or mystery additives. Depending on the loaf, we add recognizable, wholesome ingredients such as Kalamata olives, seeds, rosemary, Meyer lemon zest, and olive oil.

Now our award-winning artisan sourdough can be shipped directly to your door, anywhere in the U.S.

What’s in Our Sourdough?

Here’s a look at 3 of our best-selling loaves — and the ingredients that make them special.

All simple. All recognizable. Nothing hidden.

Traditional French Sourdough (Campagne): Organic unbleached wheat flour, water, sourdough starter, sea salt

Award Winning, Meyer Lemon Rosemary: Organic unbleached wheat flour, water, sourdough starter, olive oil, sea salt, rosemary, meyer lemon zest

Kalamata Olive: Organic unbleached wheat flour, water, sourdough starter, kalamata olives, sea salt

Explore all nine of our artisan sourdough loaves.

What Are the “Nasty Nine”?

The front of a bread package may promise “whole grain,” “multigrain,” or even “sourdough.” But the ingredient label tells the fuller story.

Here are nine ingredients and additive categories found in some commercial breads—why manufacturers use them, what they do, and why we choose to make bread without them.

Before You Buy That Loaf, Read the Label!

Today, we’re spotlighting “The Nasty Nine” — the worst ingredients hiding in many commercial breads, and why you might want to think twice before bringing them home.

But…before we even get to the Nasty Nine, we need to discuss…

Glyphosate

One of the most overlooked ingredients in everyday food — especially bread — is the flour itself. Most conventional flours come from wheat that’s been sprayed with glyphosate, the active ingredient in many herbicides like Roundup. While glyphosate is used to kill weeds, it’s also often applied just before harvest as a drying agent — a process known as “desiccation.” That means traces of this chemical frequently end up in the wheat, and ultimately, in the flour used for commercial baking.

Why does this matter?

Glyphosate has been linked to a range of health issues, including hormone disruption, gut microbiome imbalance, and potentially even cancer. Beyond human health, glyphosate use contributes to soil degradation, harms pollinators, and pollutes waterways. At The Baker and the Cakemaker, we choose to use only organic, glyphosate-free flour in all our breads and pastries — because what’s left out matters just as much as what’s put in.

Now, let’s discuss the Nasty Nine ingredients that you should also be aware of:

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

A cheap sweetener made from corn that spikes blood sugar and contributes to inflammation. It’s also been linked to obesity and fatty liver disease.

Azodicarbonamide (ADA)

A dough conditioner (and yes, also used in yoga mats). ADA is banned in Europe and Australia, and may pose respiratory and cancer risks when heated.

Monoglycerides & Diglycerides

These emulsifiers improve texture and shelf life, but often hide trans fats that don’t need to be listed on the label. Trans fats are strongly linked to heart disease and inflammation.

Calcium Propionate

Added to prevent mold, but may cause gut issues and has been linked to behavioral problems in children.

Potassium Bromate

Used to help bread rise, but classified as a possible carcinogen. It’s banned in many countries, but not the U.S.

Artificial Colors & Flavors

Common in flavored or multigrain breads. These additives may impact behavior, trigger allergies, and affect brain health.

Bleached Flour (Chlorine Dioxide, Benzoyl Peroxide)

Processed with chemicals that strip nutrients and may leave behind irritants. Not nourishing.

Excess Added Sugar

Some slices have as much sugar as a cookie. Can lead to cravings, energy crashes, and long-term health issues.

Soy Lecithin & Soy Flour

Often genetically modified and highly processed. Can affect hormone balance and gut health, especially in sensitive individuals.

What to Look for in a Better Loaf

When shopping for bread, look for short, simple ingredient lists - ingredients you recognize and can pronounce.

A great bread contains:
• Organic, unenriched, unbleached flour
• No refined sugar or artificial sweeteners
• No preservatives, dough conditioners, or emulsifiers

Final Thoughts

Not all bread is created equal. But a lot of commercial breads are built to last on shelves — not in your body.

Bread should be more than convenient. It should be made with wholesome ingredients, time you can taste, and care you can feel in every slice.

An unfamiliar ingredient is not automatically harmful—but it is worth asking why it is there, what purpose it serves, and whether that loaf reflects the way you want to eat.

At The Baker & The Cakemaker, that means organic flour, our 16-year-old starter, and the time it takes to make truly exceptional sourdough.

Start reading labels. Ask questions. And choose bread that loves you back.

Ready to Taste the Difference?

Build your own Artisan Bread Box with four or more loaves selected from our nine sourdough varieties—including our award-winning Meyer Lemon Rosemary bread.

Every loaf is baked from scratch, frozen at peak freshness, carefully packed, and shipped nationwide…directly to your door!

Enjoy some now. Freeze some for later. Or send a box of truly exceptional sourdough to someone you love.

The same bread. The same standards. Shipped Nationwide*.

*Shipping available to the contiguous 48 United States.

Bread as It Should Be™

To order, click the link below.

Here’s to better bread!

The Baker and the Cakemaker