As many gluten free shoppers in Australia would have recently noticed, many changes within the gluten free marketplace have occurred. From product reformulations (we’ll discuss this more, below) to rearrangements of the gluten free aisles in our supermarkets, our gluten free lifestyles are in the midst of a change in just about every possible manner.
Country Life Bakery, the largest supplier of gluten free bread in Australia is no exception.
Pictured below is an example of their old packaging along with it’s ingredient listing:
Ingredients: Contains almond, egg and sulphites as indicated in bold type. Water, Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, Almond Meal, Eggs, Yeast, Vegetable Oil, (Antioxidant 320), Sugar, Linseed Meal, Vegetable Gum (415, 412), Rice Bran, Psyllium Husks, Vinegar, Iodised Salt, Emulsifiers (471,481), Food Acid (260), Preservative (220, Sulphites) Vitamin (Thiamin).
Note: There is no dairy in our recipe, but traces of dairy may be found as our bakery machine also makes breads containing dairy.
Pictured below is an example of their new packaging.
Ingredients: Contains almond, soy and egg as indicated in bold type. Water, modified tapioca starch (1442), rice flour, maize starch almond meal, vegetable oil, linseed, soy flour, egg white, sugar, rice bran, iodised salt, psyllium flour, yeast, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (464), preservative (282), vegetable gum (412), vitamin (thiamin).
I took a picture on the back of the loaf as well as the front (pictured above), which is pictured below:
Before I rant on, I thought I would include their boasting (albeit ridiculous IMO) quote:
Making great quality gluten free bread isn’t easy. At Country Life Bakery we’ve been baking gluten free bread since 1984 & we’ve learnt a lot along the way. We want our gluten free bread to be the closest to regular bread you can find. Our new formulation is our best work yet. Soft, light & delicious – you won’t believe it’s gluten free. Bigger, better & now also dairy free.
* * * * * *
So, it seems that Country Life Bakery has now joined the food industry in reformulating their gluten free loaves.
And, surprise surprise! Guess what they added to it that I have feared all along??
SOY!
Should I have been surprised? Probably not (as I had strong suspicions that it would eventually happen), but as you can probably tell I am now overwhelmed in total, complete and utter frustration at what I am to do!
Unlike the United States, the UK and New Zealand it seems like every gluten free bread (and just about every last loaf of regular bread too) here in Australia now contains one common ingredient: SOY FLOUR!
I can no longer find a bread without this WRETCHED ingredient.
Have the manufacturers here not a clue as to the dangers of soy? What is their purpose in adding it to so many of our gluten free foods.
A couple of months ago I ranted on about how the Patties Gluten Free range of foods now contains soy. Uncle Rick (the man who developed the original recipes for their range which were free of as many allergens as possible (including soy)) graciously dropped me a line saying that since he left the company he has not been happy with what he as seen.
AND I’M NOT ONE BIT HAPPY EITHER!!!
I will no longer be supporting Country Life Bakery. My non-coeliac family members who used to purchase their regular loaves will no longer be giving them their business either.
Did you know that SOY FLOUR is now the most common ingredient in bread in Australia?
It STINKS that something that traditionally was NEVER in bread is now in virtually EVERY loaf around!!!
What are your thoughts? Tell me below.
I'm Amy Backs (aka Gluten Free, Soy Free Aussie) and am allergic to soy as well as being coeliac. This blog is primarily devoted to me telling of my lifestyle as well as providing tips, recipes, food suggestions and more particularly to assist those with soy allergies. I know of many with even more restrictive diets than myself, with multiple intolerances lurking in society, and am also keen to hear of your experiences (wherever you may be). 
Aug 28, 2012 @ 20:46:54
The worrying thing is so many people have no idea what they’re now eating.
I was at the Coeliac NSW/ACT Coeliac Society’s Gluten Free Expo on Saturday and the Country Life Bakery stall was one of the most popular. They were giving away sandwiches with their new “soy bread”. I overheard one other person complain, before I let them know how disappointed I am.
It’s such a shame that there is great gluten free bread out there that we can’t access in Australia. The UK’s “Genius” GF bread is so nice without any sign of evil soy.
Aug 28, 2012 @ 22:31:23
Such a shame! I agree entirely, as I was pretty certain all along that CLB would eventually include this potential ‘anaphylaxis-triggering’ ingredient into their GF bread supply as it’s pretty abundant in all their other gluten-filled stuff too!
Puzzles me as to why soy is so widely used in our gluten free food supply in Australia in the first place. Particularly since (as someone mentioned in an email to me) Udi’s in the USA and Genius in the UK produce beautiful FRESH (not vacuum sealed BTW) loaves that are completely and entirely soy free.
Let’s hope they’ll listen…
Aug 28, 2012 @ 20:51:42
I agree with your comments. I tried the new bread and really liked the taste until the gut pains started reminding me of the reason I was on a gluten free diet in the first place. I stopped eating it after realising the bread was causing the gluten intolerance symptoms and have been pain free for three days. A coeliac friend also had the same reaction to the bread. To my knowledge I have never had a reaction to soy before as I eat San Remo gluten free pasta regularly with no problems. What have Country Life done to their bread?!!
Aug 29, 2012 @ 18:13:12
Have you investigated other ingredients in the loaf you mentioned, Fran? The preservatives? Just guessing at some… Best of luck!
Aug 30, 2012 @ 13:15:27
Thanks Amy – that’s a good idea. I’ve eaten most of the older versions of the Country Life range before with no problem. The soy was the only ingredient that I could see that was different – but I’ll certainly look into the preservatives.
fee – thanks for your comment. I’m really happy that you like the bread and I agree with you that toasting was the only way to really enjoy the older versions.
Aug 28, 2012 @ 23:01:14
You are a whiner. The new bread is absolutely beautiful and I for one can now actually enjoy sandwiches once again as many others can do. Prior to this new breed of bread, toast was the only way bread could be eaten with pleasure. So stop complaining.
Aug 29, 2012 @ 18:17:35
fee, to be honest I am really happy for the gluten free community as well (since I’ve heard many great reviews about the bread myself).
I also know that many non-coeliacs (particularly those with soy as their only problem food) used to buy the CLB gluten free loaves as these were the only soy free breads on the Australian market.
In my opinion, bread is meant to contain wheat. It is not meant to contain soy. Yet nowadays it is MUCH easier to find a wheat-free bread than a soy free bread. It’s bizarre… and frustrating to say the least!
Sep 24, 2012 @ 10:41:57
I agree. Honestly, the bread was pretty awful before, however since the changed recipe, it’s wonderful. I assume that’s attributed somewhat to the soy flour addition.
So while there are a minority here who are against the changed recipe, I’ve spoken to many people who love this new formul are now eating ACTUAL real sandwiches again. I’m currently having nearly a loaf a day after years of being stuck on rice crackers and it’s variations for lunch.
Please don’t change a thing country life!
Sep 24, 2012 @ 10:58:11
I think the whole thing with special diets for individuals (including me) totally sucks. And the adjustments which go with that sucks. But in the long run, some of us are lucky re food choices and some of us have a harder battle. It took me well over two years before I actually went out of denial (lol) into fully supporting the gluten free diet. I for one totally luv Soy and related products (being one of the lucky ones there) and if I suddenly became unable to have Soy I would be devastated as I so enjoy the new bread range. For me, as said before it is absolutely awesome. But I can now understand the frustration for those who cannot indulge in the new range/ingredients. That truly sucks for you. As for the amount of bread? Wow, I have to watch my weight now as the bread for me is so yummy I am looking to that to fulfill my hunger. And yeah so over rice crackers…………lol
Oct 12, 2012 @ 15:18:55
I totally agree that the bread is much easier to eat- although I did like the taste of toasted sandwiches, however I am also having a bad reaction to the new bread and I know it’s the bread as I have not changed my diet in any other way. I have developed a paunch, similar to that old bloating caused by wheat. I don’t know if it is the soy, added sugar or some other product they have put in that has caused this reaction but I will no longer be purchasing it. Bring back the old recipe as well so we can make a choice Country
Life!
Aug 29, 2012 @ 20:38:53
I have a very hard time here in the US as well and in the UK..finding any bread without soy…it is maddening… I have started a page on face book.. it is called “What is Really in our food” .I have been reaching a few more people on it…I struggle with Soy and with msg in all forms…it is a nightmare and most do not know they are even in one!!! ugh…
I found a soy free chocolate chip for baking..it is Enjoy Life but is very hard to find…http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/our_foods/chocolate_chips.html
The chips are delicious…it is a very small company and is struggling to keep up with all the demand is what I get from the stores that carry it..of which I have found one in Virginia USA and one in Minnesota USA..a few store close to where I am carry the line but not the chips…and seem to not have any inclination to get them in although I have requested them to do so…they all seem to be in denial as to the need of these….the ones where I did find them could not keep them on their shelves…!!!
Sep 03, 2012 @ 06:44:01
ELB’s chocolate chips are impossible to find over here where I am! The only so-called “allergy free” chocolate made in Australia is the Sweet William range of Dairy Free chocolate. It’s free of all allergens except for one. You’ve all probably guessed it… SOY!
Sep 03, 2012 @ 20:40:40
While I was in Ireland I ate their Irish soda bread..it is not gluten free..but it was soy free…but as in most countries…there were shelves stocked with gluten free foods..I find gluten free products everywhere these days…The addition of soy is shockingly high and there are no shelves for soy free..that I can find….Finding food/bread without some form of msg or soy is a miracle…even tins of tuna have it in it. Soy is cheap and msg in its many forms is an addictive exito toxin. Our brains are told it tastes good. It is pumped into our meats to plump them and it also inflames and plumps people…me being one of them. I am basically on a whole foods and bake at home diet…no eating out without danger…and I do it to just take part in friends and family outings weighing always if it is worth it…
Aug 30, 2012 @ 07:15:06
I am a boutique biscuit maker in Australia and my products are gluten free, soy free, egg free and nut free. I totally agree with you on the soy which is why I made it my mission to create only gluten free products that also do not contain soy. It’s the next cheap and easy option in the quest for mass manufacturers to appeal to the gluten free market which is pretty much what happened in the beginning with adding cheap and easy wheat and gluten to products mass produced.
Sep 03, 2012 @ 06:45:15
Glad to hear of some new companies like yours that are really making a difference!! I’ll be sure to check you out at the first chance I get.
Aug 30, 2012 @ 13:26:41
Soy = bad nasty filler that says you hate your customers if you add it to your ingredients.
Sep 03, 2012 @ 06:46:10
Agreed!!!
Aug 31, 2012 @ 14:51:59
My husband can’t eat soy and is restricted to one brand of bread. He used to eat my gluten free bread but can’t now (he is not a coeliac). I found the new bread upset my tum too. As a coeliac I can’t say I get particularly worried about eating ‘normal’ style bread or having ‘normal’ food. The gluten free diet is my normal so I can’t really say it bothers me that I need to toast my bread to make sandwiches etc. I find that as I don’t have something I don’t really miss it either. However I do find it more perturbing that soy is being added to absolutely everything. I wonder whether or not that can be good for us and I worry about how much my children are inadvertently ingesting (they aren’t coeliacs either).
Sep 03, 2012 @ 06:50:59
The only way we’re going to even have a chance to put an end to this is by contacting the company behind this brand (i.e. Country Life Bakery). Goodman Fielder apparently owns them.
Here’s an email address so you all can get in touch. I have just emailed them: cac@goodmanfielder.com.au
I will also be making a phone call to their consumer line at: 1800 638 112
I suggest you all do the same.
I have invited them to respond to this post if they wish to do so.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 12:09:43
Fran, I too am looking into what ingredients could have a negative effect. My son loves the taste of the new bread but he keeps feeling ill at lunchtime after he starts to eat it- like he wants to be sick. We never had issues with the past Country Life bread and I haven’t noticed issues with soy before so I am searching for answers too.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 17:49:50
Our oldest daughter has coeliacs & we have relied on Country Life GF bread as I work full time & it is the only bread we can buy where we live. I won’t be buying it for much longer though. The first change I noticed on the label was the addition of the preservative 282 – have a look here to see what kind of reactions it can cause http://fedup.com.au/factsheets/additive-and-natural-chemical-factsheets/282-propionates-bread-preservative We had been avoiding it for many years due to my son reacting to it. As most of the mainstream wheat breads (including those made by Goodman Fielders) no longer contain it, it escapes me why they think it’s necessary!
My other problems with the new bread are to do with the new packaging – not suitable at all for freezing.
I will be using the email above to contact the company & complain. Thanks
Sep 17, 2012 @ 20:29:04
No worries… Steal Away!
Feel free to let us know what they have to say, as I’ll be posting their response as soon as I get some time up my sleeve.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:07:29
Changing a product’s ingredients without distinguishing it as a DIFFERENT product is unethical. The packaging warns us its NEW and IMPROVED, but in the front label it should also say how – ie NOW CONTAINS SOY. The ingredients of the multigrain do not contain ALMOND flour. The packaging is very poor because it does not enable me to seal it. The texture has changed so much the product is not recognisable. I always liked the scone-texture of the pre August 2012 versions of Country Life, and now I think the new product is tasteless and bland that I refuse to pay almost $7 for what tastes and includes SOY like ordinary bread.
Sep 17, 2012 @ 20:31:13
What’s even more appalling is that they won’t even list the ingredients on their new website! Totally off.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 18:24:34
I would never buy it either. I went to Woolworths today, which was the first time in probably 6-8 months. I don’t have any food intolerances or allergies myself but my wife and daughters do to wheat and gluten. To me, just looking at the texture on the crust I almost knew it was gluten free. As soon as I noticed the new packaging my suspicions were confirmed. I bought a loaf tried some for myself. Tastes nothing like real bread, just a mass produced product for a niche market.
Sep 17, 2012 @ 20:33:43
I wouldn’t even call it bread, to be quite honest! Although, as I’m allergic to soy, I haven’t tried it so I can’t make that statement. (sigh)
Sep 13, 2012 @ 09:38:35
Hi
We live in Byron Bay and the best GF i have ever had is from SOL breads. It is everywhere in Qld and Northern NSW, but you can also buy it on line (link attached). I’ve told all my friends in Melb and it gets delivered overnight & they love it.
It is a sourdough and certified organic. It is certainly not as soft as country life, because it is a sourdough so it doesn’t have any yeast. Being certified organic it doesn’t have any preservatives or chemicals ie 100% natural. Also from the ingredients its dairy and soy free. Nobody I know has ever had any reactions to this bread at all.
They also have another Gluten Free, branded WILD Breads. I’ve tried this as well, which is also great. It is much softer than the SOL Breads one & more like country life because it contains yeast. Personally we like the organic, no yeast SOL Breads one, but if you want a soft sandwich GF loaf you should try the WILD Breads. Again reading the ingredients it doesn’t contain soy
http://ishop.solbreads.com.au/showcategory.aspx?CategoryID=5&SEName=buy-sol-breads-online
Sep 19, 2012 @ 18:42:23
I saw some Wild Breads loaves a while back and didn’t mind them. Such a shame they aren’t readily available in the supermarket.
Sep 16, 2012 @ 19:54:40
I am shattered by this introduction of soy. I have a soy allergy and now can’t eat my staple breakfast. So annoying I no longer buy country life and am still trying to find a low GI healthy breakfast.
Sep 19, 2012 @ 18:47:36
Thanks for dropping by, Belinda. I know what you mean about the GI aspect of it all. These days I’m so hungry by lunchtime it’s a wonder I can even hold down a job!
Sep 17, 2012 @ 18:31:45
I am shattered also, my 11 year old son has trouble with gluten, dairy and soy and I was so angry when my 5 loaves of bread came in with new packaging and a new ingredient SOY!! What do I make him for lunch now!?! Wraps don’t work, can’t get them any more in the country and he won’t eat meat and salad for lunch at school, everyone else is having sandwiches, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr NOT HAPPY COUNTRY LIFE, it is hard enough avoiding dairy, gluten and soy as it is without this added problem.
Sep 19, 2012 @ 18:55:02
The gluten, dairy and soy combination is so typical these days. So many people I’ve met who go gluten and dairy free have symptoms that seem to resolve only once they go soy free as well. Udi’s Gluten Free Foods in the USA, Genius and Warburtons in the UK recognise this! Why doesn’t Australia?
Sep 19, 2012 @ 20:12:34
So sorry Amy, I was not in a good frame of mood when I responded to your comment re the soy. Please accept my apology. I know how frustrating life can be with this up jumped diet, and I would give anything to be able to eat bread as I once knew it. But, alas, not the case, as it is with so many others. The gluten causes so many varieties of illnesses it is almost unbelievable. And so many affected. So sucks. I am one of the lucky ones who can eat soy based products, so for me the ‘new’ bread is a godsend. Obviously not the case for many others. I empathise with you and the others. God I was such a bitch when I responded to your comment. I think I was simply overwhelmed when I actually ate sandwhiches and didn’t choke on them the way it was before. Like eating polystyrene or similar. I hope you find something you can eat and enjoy. Yours. Fee
Sep 21, 2012 @ 17:56:35
after eating the bread with soy, i had to take a trip to hospital as it sent my stomach into the worst spasms i have ever experienced. VERY DISSAPOINTED COUNTRY LIFE
Sep 21, 2012 @ 18:26:31
I have found the name of a bakery in nsw that deliver also a few outlets that i will be checking out. CHOICES GLUTEN FREE outlets at Turramurra and Mona vale on the north side plus others. Worth looking at their website.
Sep 22, 2012 @ 13:12:41
This was the only commercial loaf, in our area, we could eat!
“New and Improved” ?? Didn’t CLB do ANY homework before changing a great product that worked perfectly fine? They will be hearing from me shortly.
If gluten is “kryptonite” then soy is it’s evil twin!
CLB will be losing our business and, unfortunately, so will the great shops that stock it.
Hope you all can find a decent alternative.
Sep 24, 2012 @ 20:24:12
I think to cover all the aspects of some can eat soy and some can’t, perhaps Country Life could consider doing one loaf of each. One with and one without. that way, everyone would be eating what they can tolerate and enjoy. Simple enough surely. Old recipe and new recipe. Yeah, that could work. No business likes to lose customers and certainly no business would want a mass exodus of their customers. Hmmm………Food for thought? lol, excuse the pun………
Sep 22, 2012 @ 14:39:31
I have 3 in my family on a gluten free diet, we were buying 4 to 5 loaves of this bread. My kids loved it!!! Since the ingredient change they will no longer eat it. Now I am searching again for a gf bread that they want to eat. Also they have added maize starch which one of my children have to avoid!
Sep 24, 2012 @ 11:27:46
I think if enough people send them an email cac@goodmanfielder.com and let them know your personal experience and exactly what you think of their new products, maybe they will get back to our suitable ingredients. They must surely be seeing a big drop in their sales. MASS PROTEST. Way back in the 50′s there was a HOUSWIVES Assoc. that took these things up with manufacturers when enough people complained. I have had a reply to my email to them already, I only sent it after reading these comments on 21/9, so it is worth a try.
Sep 24, 2012 @ 20:20:09
I think to cover all the aspects of some can eat soy and some can’t, perhaps Country Life could consider doing one loaf of each. One with and one without. that way, everyone would be eating what they can tolerate and enjoy. Simple enough surely. Old recipe and new recipe. Yeah, that could work. No business likes to lose customers and certainly no business would want a mass exodus of their customers. Hmmm………Food for thought? lol, excuse the pun………
Sep 24, 2012 @ 20:21:58
OOHHHH and I do so love the new bread, so am on the band wagon for the new loaf (just for little old me lol and the ‘others’.) and the more I think about it the more I reckon C.L. can make the two types………………..what does everyone think about that for a suggestion?
Sep 25, 2012 @ 10:33:01
Is soy flour really necessary in their GF bread? What purpose does it serve? It must do something if it’s hard to find any breads without it. But couldn’t they just remove the soy flour from it since it’s a minor ingredient anyway?
Sep 25, 2012 @ 11:47:24
I’ve found it quite interesting reading peoples comments and differing opinions on this subject.
People don’t seem to be aware about the issues that soy can (allegedly) cause.
Here’s an article which you might find useful to read:
http://www.healthdimensions.com.au/a/186.html
Those of us who experience problems with soy will certainly relate to this one statement from this article: “Soy contributes to food allergies and digestive intolerances”. It sure does for me.
Here’s another article which lists some of the benefits of soy and also some of the negative effects it can have on men:
http://www.symptomfind.com/nutrition-supplements/effects-of-soy-milk-men/
The last paragraph in this article uses the words “in moderation”. Unfortunately, soy is now in so many products that it’s forced into our diets whether we like it or not.
Sep 25, 2012 @ 12:03:47
Hi all,
I’m another one who does not like the new version of Country Life’s GF bread!
The taste is different, the texture is different and as others have mentioned the bread cannot be frozen in the new packaging.
Thank you AMY for the link to their website, will definitely add my complaint.
Sep 25, 2012 @ 18:14:39
I’m looking for a bread that’s gluten free, diary free & egg free. Does anyone know where you can get a bread without the above ingredients in Melbourne?
Sep 26, 2012 @ 07:36:18
Have a look at these sites. Naturally gluten free and also Choices gluten free bakery. the first one has suppliers in nsw, vic, Qld., the choices one delivers all over also. I have not tried their products as yet, but am also looking for something edible(tried Dovedale from coles, but it is dreadful.
Sep 27, 2012 @ 19:32:57
Hi Kev Healthybake have organic gluten free bread that is also dairy free and egg free. Tastes fantastic as well and the shape is more like a normal loaf of bread. It’s sold in IGA and Foodworks stores. http://www.healthybake.com.au
Oct 08, 2012 @ 22:39:42
Oct 13, 2012 @ 20:19:22
I agree wholeheartedly!!! I would also like to add how disappointed I am that the preservative 282 has been added.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 12:39:11
Is preservative 282 associated with nausea
Oct 19, 2012 @ 07:43:18
282 is Calcium Propionate. Adverse reactions include behavioural and learning problems, skin irritation, headaches, migraine. Asthma. Ref: Eady, J. (2004). Additive Alert: Your guide to safer shopping.
Oct 17, 2012 @ 14:26:39
Well I just went into Coles Central in Sydney CBD to get some Dovedale GF bread. It’s gone. In its place on the shelf was “Pure Bred Bakery Gluten & Wheat Free” white and wholegrain farmhouse loaves. It has an “exclusive to Coles” sticker on the wrapper and it’s made in Ireland, yes, Ireland. The white loaves were still partially frozen. It’s $4 for a 400g loaf, so cheaper than Country Life.
The ingredients of the multigrain loaf are (in alphabetical order): Canola Oil, Egg White Powder, Folic Acid, Golden Millet Seed, Invert Sugar, Iodised Salt, Linseed, Maize Starch, Plum Puree, Poppy Seeds, Potato Starch, Preservative 200 (Sorbic acid), Preservative 281 (Sodium propionate), Psyllium Husk Powder, Quinoa Seed, Rice Bran, Rice Flour, Rice Starch, Starter Culture, Sugar Beet Fibre, Sunflower Seed, Tapioca Flour, Thiamin, Thickener 415 (Xanthin gum), Thickener 460b (Cellulose microcrystalline?), Thickener 464 (Carboxymethyl cellulose), Thickener 466 (Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose), Water, Wholegran Maize Flour, Yeast
Anyway, I’ve really come to like the Dovedale bread. Made in Victoria, not Ireland. Let’s hope Coles haven’t totally ditched an Australian manufacturer for an Irish company!
At least it’s soy free!!
Oct 17, 2012 @ 21:55:15
and because of the xanthan gum(another form of msg)..I would not be able to eat even this without nausea, swelling and achy joints..the maize flour is another I cannot have on the list..and am not certain of the 400 number thickeners..if they are carragean…then no as well..so when I am in Ireland again as I was last spring..I will not be buying this bread…
Oct 19, 2012 @ 17:28:26
I can’t eat soy either so this was a major downer for me too. Have you tried livwell rolls/pitas/English muffins/crumpets? They’re my fave and cause no problems!
Choices GF have no soy in many of their products and I am about to review them on Southern in Law over the next couple of weeks – so keep an eye out!
Oct 21, 2012 @ 08:26:33
Gidday. There are many dangers in our foods and many battles to be fought in wars on food. I have been fighting the ADD and ADHD classifications and mental health issues. Teach children how to learn and how to study and to use dictionarys. Dont drug our kids and label them. Teachers and psychologists, pediatricians and psychiatrists and now GP’s have a lot to answer for drugging our kids. There are worse dangers than food allergies but this too is a war that must be won. I like country like bread too.
Oct 26, 2012 @ 11:01:24
Since I was diagnosed with CD I have always been a huge fan of the Country Life Bakery breads. Our household would purchase 4-5 loafs per week. However when the new packaging came out I had an awful reaction to the product, and when I checked the ingredients list- surprise surprise- was shocked to find out that, like so many other GF packaged goods nowadays, the new Country Life breads are made with dirty soy flour. When I phoned the consumer line and explained that many people with CD (who you could assume are the main target market for this product) are also intolerant to Soy- the woman had no idea what I was talking about, and after I explained it a number of times she said in a very non-committal way “I’ll pass that on”. As it stands now, if I can’t source the hard to find Dovedale Rice Chia Bread (which I think must be the only GF/SF bread around now), I must bake my own. Surely sales of Country Life bread must have dropped since the introduction of soy flour??
Oct 30, 2012 @ 09:55:09
send them an email and explain what your reaction was, i also experienced this, they replied promptly and said they have had a lot of feedback, (good and bad) and were monitoring the situation. The more they are informed of reactions to soy the better.
Nov 14, 2012 @ 12:50:00
Thank Evelyn, will do
Oct 31, 2012 @ 16:52:55
its been interesting reading some of the feedback and would like to add my two cents worth. Country Life sells 96% 0f all supermarket gluten free bread in Australia and i have noticed the dwlindling presence of ather breads since the release of the new recipe. Not much goodness in the bread by the looks! Soy is added to bakery products because it aids in moisture retention,flexability and stability especially in breads [it is also a cost effective ingrediant] I have never met a coeliac that claims to have perfect health by just taking out the gluten from their diets. I have met people that have an excellent quality of life by taking all the grains out of their diet! deeks bakery makes grain free bread that you can have as a fresh sandwhich but does contain around 8% soy flour. They also have a specific loaf of soy free bread which is very good and are working on taking out soy from all of their products, when this will happen I dont know but i do know that the breads taste great, are all natural and they are dedicated to produce healthy products not just a cheap gluten replacements!
Nov 14, 2012 @ 12:54:14
Sound great, will look into these!
Nov 14, 2012 @ 10:12:28
Have you all tried the WildBread GF which is now available nation wide at Aldi? My kids love it and I love the price $3.99 It’s made in Brisbane. There is a white and Multigrain version & no soy
Ingredients of the White are “filtered H2O, Corn flour, Rice flour, arrowroot, organic sunflower rol, eggs, sugar, yeast, cultered rice flour, sea salt, Xanthan gum
Hope you enjoy are much as us!!
Nov 14, 2012 @ 12:56:37
Hi Sue, yes I was buying the Wild Breads from Aldi or Coles while we were living in Brisbane. But since moving to Sydney I have not found it- have looked in a number of Aldi, Coles, Woolworths stores etc but no sign of it
Nov 14, 2012 @ 14:22:02
Hi
I rang WIldbreads and they told me they were in process of sending to Aldi nationally – so maybe it hasn’t arrived everywhere yet. But keep checking it’s on it’s way
Enjoy!
Nov 14, 2012 @ 15:25:46
hey Sue !The Aldi bread- It has yeast in it. The biggest cause of gut pain,bloating and colon cancer is yeast. I fed my kid on soy for 17 years and I eat it too. OMG. go to www,CCHR international.Please watch videos.Making a killing
Nov 15, 2012 @ 08:46:51
hi Bill
The country Life loaf that everyone on this site seems to comment about about also has yeast – that’s how they get it white and fluffy!! All supermarket GF’s have yeast!!
If you don’t want yeast you need a proper sourdough – try SOL Breads – you can buy this on line. It is definitely the healthiest on the market & tastes great, but only available in QLD & Northern NSW, or on line
Cheers
Sue
Nov 24, 2012 @ 15:36:53
Orgran easy bake bread may be helpful for you, I baked my first ever loaf of bread yesterday and it worked a treat! All the best!
Dec 01, 2012 @ 07:45:09
Try Bills Organic Sourdough Bread – Medium Rye (green packaging). Available in Coles in NSW at least but can also be bought on line. Soy free! It’s a lifesaver.
Dec 01, 2012 @ 08:42:39
Does it have Rye in it? Because Rye contains gluten..
Dec 01, 2012 @ 10:48:11
We’ve been talking about our dissatisfaction with the ‘new’ GF country life bread – why is nothing changing? Any ideas on what we can do would be much appreciated!!!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:02:47
Have you tried PureBred or been in touch with CLB?
Dec 04, 2012 @ 20:58:08
Correct, it is not gluten free but only soy free. Still, may be helpful for people suffering from soy allergies and not gluten.
Dec 04, 2012 @ 19:09:45
This may be off topic but I thought that being an Australian site you should all know about what I experienced at the ANU (Australian National University) with my gluten free dietary requirements. It was NOT nice.
I have touched on it at this link: http://icmn91.hubpages.com/hub/ursula-hall-gluten-free
Jan 08, 2013 @ 16:47:13
I too am very disappointed and somewhat angry, it is hard enough to find good food that is gluten and soy free, why do this??
thankfully someone recently told me about Aldi GF and soyfree bread. it tastes OK and so far my tummy is happy too.
Jan 13, 2013 @ 17:50:44
My husband suffered the same gut pain problems when eating the new version of the Country Life bread – he used to eat up to 6 slices a day prior to the changed ingredients. He has not experienced those pains since he ceased eating the new version altogether. We note that one of the new ingredients is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (464). An example of one food site’s description of this additive = “Large concentrations can cause intestinal problems, such as bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.” Wikipedia states that it is “used primarily in construction materials like tile adhesives and renders.”
Jan 18, 2013 @ 17:57:10
Hello, I share your frustration. I too avoid soy products and it is so common in gluten free bread products. I avoid it because, like wheat and gluten, i simply cannot tolerate it. I have avoided it for 10 years now. I would sometimes purchase country life but since it contains so many preservatives and yeast it was only a sometimes bread. Now, since the addition of soy flour, it is an eat it and pay the consequences matter so i avoid it. Finding gluten free bread these days, in cafes in common but they very rarely know what other ingredients it contains. Some people like myself avoid a number of foods, not just wheat and gluten. I think if a cafe keeps a ‘specialty food’ to sell in their cafe, keeping a list of the ingredients would highly benefit the consumers and therefore the business. I like to avoid yeast, but my fave g free and soy free (i think but will check again) is purebred. Available at coles. You dont need to toast it before eating. It may contain yeast but im pretty sure it is soy free.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:01:11
Yes, PureBred is soy free. I hope to do a review on it soon, as it’s the first time I’ve had access to palatable bread rolls!
Jan 24, 2013 @ 22:15:42
The UK’s gluten free bread is awful. it crumbles into little pieces if you attempt to spread anything onto it. I adored the Country Life bread with soy when I was in Australia over Christmas. There are NO gluten free breads worth eating in the UK
Jan 24, 2013 @ 22:16:11
and by that I mean Genius bread
Jan 24, 2013 @ 22:25:55
Katie, I suspect you’re a troll. The Genuis bread is award winning. It’s exported to Europe and is made under licence in the USA and Canada. It’s the most normal gluten free bread I’ve ever eaten. The original white tastes so like “normal” white bread. It’s delicious – and no soy. Do you work for Goodman Fielder by any chance? “Soy flour” is just a cheap filler.
Jan 25, 2013 @ 12:24:03
This nasty post and all the inflammatory comments that accompany it are not going to change anything at Goodman Fielder or Country Life Bakery. They’ve made their bread dairy free (which is excellent since I’m a firm believer dairy caused me the type 1 diabetes iv’e had since I was 4).
If you don’t like it don’t buy it.
Jan 25, 2013 @ 08:36:51
I have a boutique gluten free, soy free baked goods business in Australia and have developed a beautiful yeast free, gluten free, soy free bread. I currently have interested distributors in Australia and the USA and open to discussions from distributors in the UK as well.
Jan 25, 2013 @ 16:11:31
What is the name of your brand/business, Fiona? Do you have a website?
Feb 06, 2013 @ 08:59:50
Hi Eric,
My brand is Miss Fi Gluten Free. My website is still in production, I do have a facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MissFiGlutenFree although this doesn’t yet reflect all our products it will give you some idea.
I will be updating the page with new distributors and stockists over the coming days and weeks.
Mar 14, 2013 @ 21:38:59
I used to enjoy ‘country life’s’ bread too, and was also intrigued with their no packaging. And yes, on closer inspection of their ingredient list …there it was – SOY!
I’m allergic to wheat, soy and shellfish, and now find it extremely had to find bread.
Have found a new bread today (or should I say ‘hot cross buns’ which are amazing…pure bred bakery – available at Coles. No wheat or soy!…will be trying their bread next…hopefully it’s just a good.
Mar 17, 2013 @ 13:17:54
Tracey or anyone else who’s reading this, are the hot cross buns frozen or fresh (please say fresh!!). Simply Wize makes/made some but it’s a bit embarrassing saying they were frozen.
Mar 17, 2013 @ 17:10:42
Unfortunately, they are frozen (coming from the UK), but nevertheless – are awesome…you just need to eat them within the week…that’s if they last the long. There is a bakery in nsw that makes all there bread (products) fresh. And the deliver the day after baking – Choices, breads and fox casitas are amazing.
Mar 19, 2013 @ 19:07:36
Hi, my daughter was recently diagnosed as Coeliac (31 Jan 2013) and we all went gluten free while we waited for her biopsy results. Personally I had never felt better after a lifetime of digestive issues. Genetic testing revealed I have both of the coeliac genes, I suffer with very low iron stores and mouth ulcers so they are now investigating me too. I had to go on gluten but only lasted a couple of weeks. Serology was all normal. Now I am back off gluten I have been eating Country life GF bread as it’s been the best tasting so far. Others gave us all indigestion! However now my stomach is incredibly bloated and the old symptoms seem to have returned. The only difference between being GF a couple of months ago and now is the Country Life bread. I drink soy milk and have no issues. I know to avoid soy sauce. Can anyone explain the differences. Aren’t all soy products derived from the same source? Just looking for some answers as to why my symptoms have returned now I am GF. I am new to all this!! Many thanks!
Mar 20, 2013 @ 08:39:09
Hi Julie,
It is very possible to have a sensitivity to a particular food and still be able to have it in specific forms, for instance I am lactose intolerant and cannot digest milk or cream – they make me really sick, however I am able to eat cheese and butter without any issues. It’s simply because the proteins are altered during the processing of the cheese and butter. Likewise you may be able to digest the form the soy is in when it is milk but unable to digest it in flour or powder form. The issue you may like to look at is the fact that soy is one of the most highly genetically modified foods on the planet, the vast majority of soy foods on the market are gm and it may be the genetic modification you are sensitive to as this completely changes the formulation of the food, how it’s digested and the nutrient content. Fermented organic soy products could be an answer for you.
Please let me know how you progress, I would like to know more about your journey. Has your daughter been gluten intolerant from birth or is it a recent issue?
Mar 20, 2013 @ 11:40:40
I’d love to see a cruelty free version without the egg!!
Domino’s in Australia introduces a Soy Free, Gluten Free Pizza Base | Gluten Free, Soy Free Australia
Mar 21, 2013 @ 11:39:14
Apr 02, 2013 @ 08:58:43
Thanks again to everyone for dropping by. For those unaware, Domino’s in Australia introduced a gluten free, soy free pizza base just a few months ago.
Apr 15, 2013 @ 10:06:42
i for one have discovered how yummy this bread is!after having a really bad attack from my gall bladder i was put on a gluten and dairy free diet and changed my bread and to my surprise i love it!bit more lighter than the normal breads you can get in the supermarket but i say country life you have done a wonderful job!ive already started dropping weight coz of the change in bread and other things in my diet but it does get very costly to buy!!!
Apr 18, 2013 @ 07:09:57
Hi I was just wondering why I have not been
ablie to buy the raisin bread are you still makeing that one ?I live in Emerald central Queensland .
Apr 28, 2013 @ 01:39:29
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In order to compete for market shares on routes you
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In general, it is something manufactured, to pretend to be (or simulate), something else more valuable.
Apr 29, 2013 @ 07:23:03
Yes it’s really frustrating when you need to be so careful as to what you eat, my friend and I got so sick of trying we make our own bread and all our own cooking is done from scratch. If anyone feels the same you are welcome to check our web site out on the book we have written to overcome all these problems, There are some free recipes you may like to try out. Here it is http://www.simplygrainfree.com Cheers