Recently updated on March 26th, 2024 at 10:54 am
Soreen has been a popular snack since its invention in 1938. Although advertised as being “full of energy”, we know that this doesn’t necessarily mean it is healthy. As a result, we researched whether Soreen malt loaf is bad or good for you. See what we discovered below.
Ingredients in Soreen Malt Loaf
Soreen is a malted loaf made from fortified wheat flour, sugar syrup, and malted barley. To get that malt taste, they use both Barley Malt Extract and Malted Barley Flour. The other ingredients include dried fruits, sugars, and colouring.
All types of Soreen are preserved using Calcium Propionate. This substance occurs naturally in butter and cheese and is used to prevent mould or bacterial growth.
Minerals and vitamins contained in Soreen Malt Loaf’s fortified wheat flour include:
- Iron – used for making new red blood cells, RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is 14.8 mg a day for women and 8.7 mg a day for men
- Niacin – Vitamin B3 is used to protect the skin and the nervous system
- Thiamine – Vitamin B1 is used to protect central nervous system and to turn food into energy
- Calcium Carbonate – a form of calcium which is essential for healthy bones, muscles and heart
Soreen also contains rice starch, yeast, salt and vegetable fats from rapeseed and palm oil.
Soreen is 15% raisins, and raisins are an excellent source of fibre, but they do have a 60% sugar content.
There are different kinds of Soreen Malt Loaf, and each kind has slightly different ingredients. For example, The Banana Loaf Bar includes banana pieces (12%) and banana purée (9%), and The Apple Lunchbox Loaves have apple pieces (10%) and apple puree, adding different flavours to the Soreen selection.
Here is a full list of ingredients in the Original flavour of Soreen:
Fortified Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin (B3), Thiamin (B1)), Water, Raisins (15%), Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup (Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup, Colour: E150c), Maize Starch, Malted Barley Flour (5%), Barley Malt Extract (4%), Vegetable Fats (Rapeseed, Palm), Rice Starch, Salt, Preservative: Calcium Propionate, Yeast.
Nutritional Information
For the Original Soreen Malt Loaf, nutritional values per 100g are summarized below:
- Calories: 302
- Fat: 1.7g
- Carbohydrates: 63g
- Sugar: 22g
- Fibre: 3.3g
- Protein: 7.6g
- Salt: 0.48g
Eating a quarter of the loaf gives you 143 calories, along with 30g of carbohydrates, 10g of sugar, 1.6g of fibre, 3.6g of protein, and 0.8g of fat.
Is Soreen high in protein?
Not exactly. Original Soreen Malt Loaf has 7.6g of protein per 100g, which is decent for a snack. However, considering we usually eat less than 100g at a time, the protein per serving is lower. Despite this, it still adds some protein to your diet, just not as much as high-protein foods like eggs or lentils.
Is Soreen high in sugar?
Yes, with 22g per 100g, and about 10g in a quarter loaf, Soreen is high in sugar. The sugar content is not just from added sugars though; a portion comes from dried fruits like raisins, providing some nutrients.
However, considering that adults are advised to limit their added sugar intake to 30g a day (roughly 7 sugar cubes), it’s essential to consume Soreen in moderation. The presence of naturally occurring sugars alongside added ones like partially inverted sugar syrup means that while Soreen offers nutritional benefits, mindful consumption is key to maintaining a balanced diet.
Is Soreen high in fibre?
The Original Soreen Malt Loaf provides 3.3 grams of fibre per 100g or 1.6g per 1/4 loaf. While not high enough to be considered a high-fibre food, it contributes towards the daily fibre intake recommended by health authorities, which is 30 grams. Every bit helps, and Soreen can be part of a balanced diet that includes a variety of fibre sources.
FAQs about whether Soreen is Healthy or not
In this section, we have tried to answer some FAQs we hear about whether Soreen is healthy.
Can babies have Soreen?
You should not give Soreen to babies as it is high in sugars, and babies should avoid sugars where possible. This is because when sugar is often given to babies, they will develop preferences for sugary foods and this can cause issues later in life – the child will prefer sweet foods over healthier foods and this could lead to obesity and in the long run preventable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. We would not recommend giving Soreen to your baby.
Can you eat Soreen when pregnant?
Soreen is generally safe for pregnant women if eaten in moderation. It contains some beneficial ingredients such as malt which is known to be highly nutritious for pregnant women. Dried fruits in Soreen are also full of minerals and vitamins but due to their high sugar content, they should only be eaten in moderation.
Is Soreen good for weight loss?
By comparison to other cake bars, Soreen contains less fat and sugars. This doesn’t mean it is good for weight loss since there are so many sugars in it. However, malt loaf is reasonably low in fat, contains some fibre and protein which are important to keep hunger at bay. Malt loaf can be used as part of a low-fat diet to lose weight, but you should be aware of the high sugar content.
Conclusion: Is Soreen malt loaf good or bad for you?
Soreen malt loaf contains vitamins and minerals which promotes a nutrient-rich snack. It is reasonably low in fat compared to other cake products, but it contains many sugars, roughly 1 third of your recommended daily allowance of 30g, per ¼ of a loaf.
We conclude that Soreen makes a healthier alternative to a typical cake and unhealthy sugary snacks such as cookies and chocolate bars. It is good for you in terms of nutrients and fat content, and bad for those looking to keep sugars low.
