More rice flour in bread

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Health Ministry will amend the Food Act, Number 26 of 1980 to promote bread made out of rice flour. The Act currently allows to add only two percent of rice flour to wheat flour. The proposed amendment will allow it to increase this amount upto 40 percent, a ministry spokesman said.

Adding this amount of rice flour will not require more gluten, which is a protein in wheat flour that gives bread its taste and appearance, he said. The Health Ministry does not promote wheat flour or any food item made out of it as it is one of the main causes for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country. "Use of rice flour is the healthiest way to prevent NCDs," he said.

Once the Act is amended bread made with 40 percent of rice flour will be available for consumption.