WHICH WEETBIX IS BETTER?
In our Supermarket “Switch this for That” series, today we are looking at which Weetbix is better from an additive perspective.
Ingredients:
Wholegrain Wheat (97%), Raw Sugar, Salt, Barley Malt Extract, Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate), Mineral (Iron).
Ingredients:
Wholegrain Sorghum (96%), Golden Syrup, Salt, Vitamins (E, Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Folic Acid).
What is the main difference between these two Weetbix options?
There is a very obvious difference that one is Gluten Free and the other isn’t…however, I am looking at the additive that is one of these products and not the other.
That ingredient is – Barley Malt Extract.
What is Barley Malt Extract?
Barley malt extract is product as a result of the brewing process. Malted grains are mixed together with water. This results in the enzymes to break down the starch and protein material of the malted seed. Next, the insoluble fibre is removed. What you have left, is a sugary liquid. Instead of this being fermented into beer, this is then concentrated further to make a liquid sweetener or can be dried to make a powder.
This resulting barley malt extract will often contain or produce processed free glutamic acid. You will probably be familiar with a well known processed free glutamic acid called MSG.
Why is Barley Malt Extract used?
Barley Malt Extract is widely used in many processed products as a flavour enhancer.
When added to processed foods, it can make the blandest and cheapest foods taste great.
This ingredient is very cheap and is often a byproduct of other food manufacturing processes and manufacturers are very eager to use it, as it transforms a product that would be very bland otherwise.
What are the potential effects of Barley Malt Extract?
Given barley malt extract can contain processed glutamic acid it is important to understand the effects of the processed glutamic acid on individuals that may be sensitive.
Typical symptoms of processed glutamic acid can be likened to the impacts of consuming MSG and include*:
- Bronchospasm in asthmatics
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Heart arrhythmia
- Heart palpitations
- Irritability
- Migraine
- Nausea
- Pins and needles in upper limbs
- Restlessness* Sourced from Chemical Maze
It is really important to read the labels of products even from the same manufacturer!
If your family are die hard Weetbix fans, I recommend you making this one simple switch! I know from speaking to clients and those in our Additive Free Kids community that this is a very common breakfast staple and your children are unknowingly consuming additives that could be causing a multitude of symptoms.
If you would love to see Barley Malt Extract dropped from the popular Australian breakfast cereal – please comment below and I will contact Sanitarium on behalf of the Additive Free Kids community.
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My passion and mission is to work with families to reduce the overwhelm when going additive free. Moving to additive free living can bring back peace, calm and joy to families. I know it's possible and I've experienced it first hand with my 5 boys.
Would love to see Barley Malt Extract dropped from Weetbix and Organic Weetbix. I’m sure it’s not organic.
Thanks Amber, I will contact Sanitarium on your behalf.
I would like to see Barley Malt Extract removed from Weetbix & Organic Weetbix. Considering this is a very popular cereal for families & promoted as a healthy choice Sanitarium should remove this ingredient to ensure this cereal is a healthy choice. as this additive is a health concern.
I would love sugar to be dropped in normal weetbix and for the gooden syrup to dropped in the gluten free one la as well, maybe a subs to a sweetener (Monkfruit) or something that is healthier and a nicer way of eating a satisfying breakfast please !!
Yes Amber, no longer buying organic until this “ingredient” is taken out and totally additive free. Thanks
I’d like to see it dropped
Would to see barley malt extract dropped from weetbix
I would love to see barley malt extract dropped from weetbix.
Yes please contact Sanitarium on my behalf.
Thanks Catriona I will 🙂
How about the confusion with folate/ folic acid. I’d like to know how they’ve included folate in the first product – really misleading? And the symptoms folic acid (synthetic) can have on people… I think it’s healthy to eat the box!
Thanks for your comments Julie. Will tackle one ingredient at a time 😉
I would love to see malt extract removed as well. Have converted three members of the family to gluten free weetbix. One still to go.
Great work converting three! Good luck for the last one!
Would love to see barley malt extract removed after reading this. I was unaware of the nasty side effects & that it was actually a bad thing.
Thanks Kristy for your comment.
I would love to see it dropped from weetbix. I stopped my kids having it a couple of years ago but they still ask for it and having another easy option would be great!
I know a lot of kids love to eat this… have they tried the Gluten free option?
Definitely needs to be removed!
Thanks Samantha
I have switched from Weetbix to
Vita Brits because you have added Barley Malt Extract to your products. Please make some cereals without the BME for our children.
I would love to see barley malt extract removed from Weetbix please!
Thanks Anusha
Oh my gosh! I never knew, blindly believing this was a great healthy option for my children. I mean I’m very conscious about “extras” in our weekly food shop, but this one as we are systematically believed to be ok through childhood, just hadn’t given it another thought. Would LOVE Barley Malt Extract to be DROPPED asap
Thanks Zoe, unfortunately these types of additives are in all food options, even the perceived ‘healthier’ options.
Yes would love to see it removed, especially from Organic Weetbix. If you by something labeled ‘Organic ‘ all ingredients should be organic. Again our ridiculous labeling laws. Love how you advocate for us all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart XX
You are welcome Rebecca x
Yes please!
Thanks Mia.
Yes please! Our family love Weetbix but I’ll be dropping them from the shopping list now.
I will keep you update with Sanitarium’s response.
I would live to see it removed. Keep the ingredients real. That’s all we need.
It isn’t hard is it? Unfortunately most manufacturers won’t make the changes until they see sales slide. Hopefully Sanitarium will be different!
We use the kids weetbix which is better than normal weetbix but I checked and it has barley malt extract in it too!! Please ask them to remove it from all of their weetbix!! Thank you!!!
Ans here I was thinking I was making a better choice with the Organic weetbix. Low and behold, it contains barley malt extract as well. Would love to see it removed!
I buy the organic one to, so disappointing!
Let’s clean up their act!
Yes please! I would love for barley malt extract to be removed, especially from the Kids Weetbix. Won’t be buying again until it’s gone.
Tsk tsk Sanitarium!
i totally agree, the Barley Malt Extract needs to be removed from all varieties of Weetbix – we only want and need the “real” ingredients in our food. Thank you for highlighting this!
Our family would love to see Barley Malt Extract dropped from use in food
Please remove the barley malt extract from weetbix. Particularly the organic version. Thank you
I had no idea! Yes would appreciate it being removed
Would love to see Barley Malt Extract dropped from Weetbix and Organic Weetbix. I’m sure it’s not organic.Please ask them to remove it from all of their weetbix!! Thank you!!!
I would love to see it removed & won’t be buying weetbix again until it is.
Yes please! Glad I already eat the gluten free one, but for the rest of my family, malt (msg) free would be great. Thanks! 🙂
Please contact Weetbix on my behalf, Barley Malt Extract definitely needs to be removed.
I had no idea. Barley Malt Extract (MSG) needs to be dropped from this cereal. We buy the Gluten Free one already for half the family so now will only be buying that for all until the ingredient is removed.
Yes please, encourage it to be removed! Does the GF taste the same?
We buy the organic one as an occasional change to our whole food breakfasts. I won’t be again until this is fixed. If they can make the gluten free ones without then they can the others too.
We eat Vita Brit’s, hopefully this is OK. Just wheat and some salts.
If the ingredients are just wheat and salt should be ok from an additive perspective. Always need to check that the ingredients haven’t changed.
Shocking. Would love to see this removed from such a common breakfast staple, that people are unknowingly consuming .
The quickest way to see this removed is for everyone to stop buying it and voting with their dollar.
Hi so in original ingredients it states folate but gluten free says folic acid, I cannot have folic acid so just confirming is it folate in original so I can have it ?
Thanks
Hi Debbie
The original does state folate. The gluten free version as per the Sanitarium website also states folate.
Hope that helps
Frankie
What is a good substitue if switching from weetbix then?
This blog post shows you an alternative for you 🙂
Yes, I’d like to see Barley Malt Extract removed from See this.
Wow that’s interesting. Thanks for sharing this information. Yes I’d like to see it removed too!
You are welcome x
Yes please , let’s remove it from our much loved weet-bix. We don’t need it in our food.
Please remove Barley Malt Extract from your products.
Yes please! We love our weetbix. But for now knowing this we will be having porridge and muesli.
With all the new muesli hitting the shelves a blog on them would be great please.
Thanx for sharing this post on fb again I wasn’t aware of this 🙁 I’m definitely happy for you you contact Sanitarium!
I am so disappointed to find out that weetbix contains barley malt extract that could be affecting my children. They eat it nearly every morning for breakfast, I dont think I can give it to them anymore until that ingredient is removed. I would rather add raw honey or maple syrup then a highly processed barley malt extract
Surely thay can Atleast make a version that doesn’t have barley malt extract.
Yes I would definitely love barley malt extract dropped from weet-bix!!!
I would love to see Barley Malt Extract dropped from Weetbix and Organic Weetbix. Is it organic?
My son LOVES wheetbix i would love for barley malt extract to be removed.
Thank you
I recently made a batch of rum balls using weetbix. I didn’t know that one of the guests was a coeliac. So I googled for alternatives and came across your site. I have now joined. I have many friends who have various allergies and I endeavour to ensure when I cook for them that their needs are met. I will definitely recommend your site to them.
Yes I would like to see Barley Malt extract removed from Weetbix. If it is going to be labelled as an organic product, then that is exactly what it should be.
It is wonderful to hear that you are so caring to accomodate your guests dietary needs. Thanks for your comment.
Frankie
I would like to see Barley Malt Extract dropped from all Weetbix products.
Hi Frankie,
Just read this interesting info on Weetbix! Wondering if you’ve had a response from Sanitarium? Thanks.
Sanitarium please Take out barley malt extract from West bix
We would very much love to see Barley Malt Syrup removed from Weetbix.
It’s one that our family has loved but will now be avoiding until this ingredient is removed.
I would like to see Folic Acid in the gluten free ones removed or replaced with methyl folate. My daughter is gluten free and loves GF WeetBix but has MTHFR and is supposed to avoid consuming folic acid
I’m the same x
Please please take it out of our fav Aussie Cereal!