White vs. Wheat: The Food Fight of the Centuries

White vs. Wheat: The Food Fight of the Centuries

From Gastropod by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

April 21, 2026 · 53 min

About this episode

This episode explores the long-standing debate between white and whole wheat bread, delving into its historical and scientific aspects.

White or whole wheat: while today the question is most frequently asked at the sandwich counter, the debate over the correct answer goes back literally thousands of years. This episode, we dive into the world's longest-running, highest-stakes food fight. Along the way: the invention of sliced bread, the science behind Wonder Bread's curious bounce, and a light dusting of eugenics. Will either win the bread war once and for all? (encore) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Cynthia Graber, Nicola Twilley

Topics covered

  • food debate
  • whole wheat
  • white bread
  • history of bread
  • food science
  • eugenics

Keywords

  • white bread
  • whole wheat
  • food history
  • sliced bread
  • Wonder Bread
  • food science
  • eugenics

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Wonder Bread

Books & works: sliced bread

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