Flour Tortilla: Enriched Bleached Flour

Enriched bleached flour is a finely ground powder made from wheat grain. It is milled to remove the bran and germ, resulting in a white flour. This flour is then treated with bleaching agents to whiten it further and improve its baking qualities, and enriched with added nutrients like B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin), iron, and folic acid.

Manufacturers use enriched bleached flour as a primary ingredient to provide structure and texture in a wide variety of baked goods. It is commonly found in breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, and tortillas, offering a soft texture and consistent baking performance.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers enriched bleached flour a food ingredient, with bleaching agents used in its production being approved food additives. Enrichment of flour with folic acid, iron, and B vitamins is mandated in the US to help prevent nutrient deficiencies. For example, azodicarbonamide is an FDA-approved additive used as a flour bleaching and dough conditioning agent, though it is not authorized in the European Union. While refined flours are often compared to whole grain flours regarding fiber content, enriched bleached flour contributes essential nutrients to the diet.