Bleached

Bleached refers to ingredients, most commonly wheat flour, that have undergone a process to whiten them and improve their baking properties. This is typically done using chemical agents like benzoyl peroxide or chlorine gas, which react with the natural pigments in the ingredient.

Bleached flour is widely used in baked goods such as cakes, cookies, and pastries. The bleaching process helps create a whiter final product and can alter the flour's protein structure, leading to a softer texture and better volume in certain recipes.

In the United States, bleaching agents used in flour are approved food additives by the FDA. For example, azodicarbonamide is an FDA-approved additive. JECFA has evaluated some flour treatment agents, including azodicarbonamide, and set an acceptable daily intake. While some public concern has been raised about certain bleaching agents, such as azodicarbonamide, the FDA considers their use in food safe at approved levels. Potassium bromate is another flour treatment agent permitted by the FDA, though it will be banned in California from 2027.