Flour and Dough Additives and Treatments

Millers often add small amounts of additives to flour. Some of these additives are also available to bakers for mixing directly into dough. The types and amounts of additives that are allowed are strictly regulated by government agencies. By law, millers must label flour with the additives it contains.

There are several different types of flour additives. Some improve the nutrient content of flour and are required by law. Others improve dough handling or baking properties, or whiten the color of flour. A few of the main flour additives are described in the following sections.