The Boston Globe reports that the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets - such as the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet - has made it tough to be in the bakery business these days, with the North American Millers' Association estimating that annual flour consumption dipped last year to 137 pounds per person after reaching 147 pounds, a new high, in 1997.
And it is expected to get worse. There are some 14 million Americans who say they are on the Atkins Diet at the moment, and the number is expected to double - which has led the National Bread Leadership Council to call for a November 21 "summit" of companies to develop a strategy to fight the anti-carb movement.
The Globe notes that despite the cut in flour consumption, actual bread sales don't seem to be off that much, down maybe one percent in some areas. But the "buzz" is about how bread represents much of what is bad for you…and bakers don't like the way things are going.
And it is expected to get worse. There are some 14 million Americans who say they are on the Atkins Diet at the moment, and the number is expected to double - which has led the National Bread Leadership Council to call for a November 21 "summit" of companies to develop a strategy to fight the anti-carb movement.
The Globe notes that despite the cut in flour consumption, actual bread sales don't seem to be off that much, down maybe one percent in some areas. But the "buzz" is about how bread represents much of what is bad for you…and bakers don't like the way things are going.
- KC's View:
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They have something to worry about. We love bread…always have.
As part of the Atkins Diet, we stopped eating bread two months ago. Haven't had a slice since.
And we've lost 15 pounds.
And we can't say that we find the low-carb varieties to be all that appealing. It just seems easier to skip the whole category.
