Dive Brief:
- Scientists from India’s Department of Fruit and Vegetable Technology and other agencies tested adding pomelo citrus fruit to brown and white bread, according to Bakery and Snacks. The study found bread supplemented with pomelo showed a lower and more gradual release of glucose, indicating the fruit's addition can lower bread's glycemic index.
- A taste panel of Indian male and female participants ages 35 to 50 judged the pomelo bread, reporting the taste was acceptable.
- Scientists concluded that due to the pomelo bread’s lower starch digestion rate, it would be safe for consumers with diabetes.
Dive Insight:
The ability to lower both white and brown bread’s glycemic index while retaining acceptable flavor could be exciting news for health-conscious consumers — in particular the 29 million Americans with diabetes.
Pomelo, also known as Chinese grapefruit, is a citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. It’s grown in the U.S., but isn’t as common as its grapefruit or tangerine cousins. If bakers wanted to start incorporating pomelo into their bread production, they would need to explore alternative supply sources, as it is a seasonal fruit. Anyone can order California pomelos online, but they wouldn’t arrive until they’re picked in the fall. Countries in Southeast Asia offer growing options, as do China and Mexico.
The study only tested adding pomelo to brown and white bread, so it's unclear if the citrus fruit could be added to a greater variety of baked goods without affecting the taste or mouthfeel.
If food manufacturers find an affordable, tasty recipe for pomelo bread, they have the potential to win back some health-conscious consumers who are avoiding sugar or bread. According to Gallup, 29% of American consumers are actively avoiding carbohydrates. If this bread were marketed with its low glycemic index load front and center, those carb-wary consumers may want to pick up a loaf.
In addition to getting back consumers avoiding carbs, a low glycemic index bread would also appeal to the diabetic community, which has increased more than 10% since 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Often told to avoid white bread because of its high glycemic level, these consumers could eventually see this new creation as a welcome reintroduction of the baked good.