HELGAS TRADITIONAL WHITE WRAPS

“Don’t be fooled by the word ‘traditional’ on the pack; this white wrap is far from a simple staple. Made with refined wheat flour and multiple industrial additives, it’s more ultra-processed than the branding suggests. While it includes a touch of wholemeal flour and added vitamins, the rest of the ingredient list is designed for shelf life, not nourishment. What’s particularly concerning are the emulsifiers 471 (mono- and diglycerides) and 481 (SSL – sodium stearoyl lactylate). These are commonly used in processed baked goods to improve softness and extend freshness, but recent studies are calling their safety into question. A 2023 BMJ study and a 2024 PLOS Medicine paper found links between high intake of these emulsifiers and disruptions to gut health, low-grade inflammation, and even increased cancer and heart disease risk. While these findings are still observational, the fact that children are regularly exposed to these additives through white bread, wraps, and snacks means we should be paying closer attention. When a wrap like this is eaten every day, especially by children, it’s not just the refined flour that’s an issue, but the cumulative exposure to additives we don’t fully understand. At least this wrap’s health claims are not inflated with a high health star rating. It receives a 2.25/5 Real Food Rating (RFR).”