BREAD MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND
-- Break Bread in Celebration of World Bread Day --
Judi Adams, MS, RD
President of Grain Foods Foundation
Every culture is different in some way or another – but, there is one commonality that everyone around the world can identify with – Bread. It’s the one food that has historical, cultural, symbolic and political significance and that touches virtually each and every culture.
Bread dates back to the Neolithic era; it was one of the first foods that existed, making it the “staff of life.” Since it was discovered, its popularity has spread like wildfire and it has quickly became a part of every day life in most cultures and communities. Each culture has taken on its own bread-making tradition and developed hundreds of types of breads that can be seen today. Bread is nutritious, inexpensive and versatile and can make any occasion special. Bread will never go out of style, it’s as popular in times of poverty as it is in times of plenty – it’s a universal staple.
Even in today’s world, with a plethora of food available, bread remains just as important to our diet and culture as it was in the beginning. It has a prominent place internationally at the market, in our cupboards and on our plates.
To celebrate everyone’s love for Bread and its symbolism of solidarity and ability to share, World Bread Day will take place on October 16.
Bread Facts from Around the World:
- Spain: Bread is called "pan", and has the most different types of bread (approximately 315). There is a region called "Tierra del Pan" (land of the bread).
- Britain and the United States: The most widely consumed type of bread is soft-textured with a thin crust and is sold ready-sliced in packages.
- South Asia (India, Pakistan, etc.): Roti or Chapati, types of flat breads, are commonly used. A variant uses mustard flour rather than wheat flour.
- Morocco & West North Africa: A round bread which is roughly four inches tall is used to eat with most of the Mediterranean's watery cuisine (i.e., hummus, etc.).
- Scotland: Another form of bread called plain bread is also consumed --plain bread loaves are noticeably taller and thinner.
- France: Pan bread is known as pain de mie and is used only for toast or for making stuffing; standard bread (in the form of baguettes or thicker breads) has a thick crust and often has large bubbles of air inside
- Italy: Focaccia is popular in Italy, and is known in Provence as fougasse or as fouace in the rest of southern France.
- China: The traditional Chinese bread is Mantou, made from a white flour dough that is mostly eaten in Northern China.
- Germany (followed by Chile): The two biggest consumers (per capita) of bread.
