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Sliced white bread – it’s a staple on shopping lists around the country. When it comes to making the perfect cheese and Vegemite sandwiches, or fairy bread for a young one’s (or young at heart) birthday party, there’s nothing better than a loaf of white bread.

But which sliced white bread is the best? To find out, consumer advocate CHOICE tested 30 supermarket sliced white breads (24 regular, six gluten-free) from brands including Abbott’s Village Bakery, Helga’s, Mighty Soft, Tip Top, and Wonder White.

“CHOICE brought together over 90 years of baking expertise to determine which white bread brand wins the expert vote,” says CHOICE spokesperson Jonathan Brown.

“Our expert taste testers conducted a blind test of classic white bread brands and also gluten free brands that have been rising in popularity on store shelves. The big brands Wonder and Tip Top impressed the experts for classic white bread taste, while Coles and Aldi impressed for their gluten free options.”

Classic white bread

1. Wonder Wholegrain White Smooth Wholegrain 

This loaf came in first, scoring an impressive 78%. “This bread has a good overall appearance, with a soft, springy crumb,” says CHOICE spokesperson, Jonathan Brown. “It also has a nice flavour, although it does taste more like wholemeal bread.”

2. Wonder Active Low GI + Protein 

Another Wonder bread scored second place in our testing, receiving 77%. This bread has a good texture and a pleasant, subtle ferment aroma. It’s a good option for families.

3. Tip Top The One White Sandwich 

Coming in at third place is Tip Top’s The One, with a score of 75%. “This loaf is well baked and has an even, soft texture,” says Mr Brown.

Available for embedding: Best sliced white bread infogram: https://infogram.com/1pgpdn7lgervdjf9pzjk0zvzgrfwk3yrg5y

Gluten free white bread

When it came to gluten free white bread, there were two clear winners.

Coles Gluten Free White Bread 

Coles took out equal first position here, with a score of 77%. “This bread is the closest to regular white bread,” Mr Brown says. “It’s springy and has a sweet, floury aftertaste.”

Aldi Has No Gluten Free Sliced White Bread 

An Aldi loaf also scored 77% in our testing. This particular bread is very visually appealing, with a good, even crust colour. It has a nutty flavour and aroma, with a slight sweetness to it.

Available for embedding: Best gluten-free white bread infogram: https://infogram.com/1p06m7vp6l30x6cex3rywnv1zpfn7k7mmnl

Health concerns

For those concerned about health, CHOICE also assessed sodium levels and found 4 brands failing to meet the industry’s own targets for sodium content:
– Bakers Delight White Block Loaf
– Buttercup Country Split White
– Country Life Gluten Free & Dairy Free White
– Tip Top Sunblest Soft White Sandwich

“It’s disappointing to see big bread brands persist with high levels of sodium in their product, especially after the industry committed to doing better. CHOICE is currently campaigning for better food labelling that makes it easy and simple for Australians to understand their food choices.”