More consumers are choosing whole wheat bread over white bread in the interest of health. But many products sold as whole wheat bread are not what they appear to be. To identify genuine whole wheat bread, consumers should check whether whole wheat flour is listed as the first ingredient.Some “whole wheat” bread products are made primarily with refined wheat flour, with a small amount of whole wheat added and caramel colouring – or other colourants – to give the bread a darker appearance.Although they may look healthier, they can be nutritionally similar to white bread and remain primarily carbohydrate-based foods.“Fake” whole wheat bread often has a dark brown colour, a soft, moist texture and a sweet taste. In many cases, these characteristics come from adding colouring to regular wheat flour.By contrast, genuine whole wheat bread made with 100 per cent whole wheat flour tends to be a lighter shade of brown than consumers might expect. It is typically coarser and firmer, has a nutty, grain-like flavour and contains little sweetness.Whole wheat uses the grain’s bran, germ and endosperm – for extra fibre that helps your digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer.It’s not just the type of bread we eat that affects our blood sugar levels, but also what we put on it. Photo: Shutterstock