Benzoate Free Foods – Cereals, Rice, Pasta, Cakes and Biscuits

Cereals, Rice and Pasta

	Foods Allowed	Foods to avoid – natural benzoates	Foods to avoid – added benzoates
Rule	Any products that are in their natural form or do not have benzoates in them. READ THE LABELS		Canned, bottled or prepared foods normally contain preservatives to extend the shelf life. These products could also contain items that contain benzoates
Example	Bread, rice, pasta, flour, sago, tapioca, oats (e.g. porridge) custard powder and cornflour. Cracker breads, water biscuits, cream crackers, original ryvita, oat cakes, bread sticks, and rice cakes. Breakfast cereals without added cinnamon, dried fruits and chocolate.	Soy and soy products added into cereals and muesli	Baked beans, tinned spaghetti, ravioli and spaghetti with spices. Look at labels carefully on packaged pasta dishes.

Cakes and Biscuits

	Foods Allowed	Foods to avoid – natural benzoates	Foods to avoid – added benzoates
Rule	Any home-made or manufactured cakes or biscuits with allowed ingredients.	Any manufactured cakes containing soy flour. (Soya)	Any manufactured cakes containing spices.
Example	Any plain fresh bread, buns, pizza dough.	Soy flour	Fruit cake, carrot cake, gingerbread, apple strudel, mince pies, Garibaldi, ginger biscuits are likely to contain cinnamon.

Always remember to read the labels as manufactures and producers could change their recipe and not inform anyone.