What You Can — and Can’t — Say About Health
Under UK and EU law, mills and bakers are not permitted to make direct health claims about flour or bread unless those claims have been authorised by the relevant regulatory bodies (such as EFSA). This means we can’t say that Botanical Blend Flour “improves gut health” or “prevents disease,” even if there is strong emerging science to support its benefits.
However, what you can say — and what we encourage — is that Botanical Blend Flour is:
- High in fibre
- Naturally diverse in plant-based ingredients
- Designed with diversity and fermentation in mind to support the gut microbiome
These are factual, evidence-based statements that highlight the core purpose of the flour, without stepping into unregulated territory. You’re not making a health claim — you’re describing the composition of the flour and the reasoning behind its design.
At The Sourdough School, we’ve built this flour based on over a decade of research into how botanical diversity and fibre-rich sourdough can support digestive wellbeing. While mills can’t state specific outcomes, you can explain that this flour is part of a broader educational and evidence-informed model focused on gut and mental health through dietary diversity.
If you’re ever unsure, we’re here to guide you in how to communicate this flour’s value clearly, accurately, and within the legal framework.
Proven Bread™: The Only Loaf Licensed to Share Its Clinical Research Origins
While all breads made using Botanical Blend Flour share the same core principles of diversity, fermentation, and nourishment, it’s important to note that only one producer – The Sourdough School Ltd is directly connected to formal doctoral and clinical research: Proven Bread™.
Proven Bread™ is the only bread licensed by The Sourdough School to state that it is based on Dr Vanessa Kimbell’s doctoral research into the relationship between bread, the gut microbiome, and mental health. It was developed, tested, and documented as the official dietary intervention in her research, in which participants consumed 200g per day of sourdough made with Botanical Blend Flour — resulting in measurable improvements to gut and mental health markers.
This means that only Proven Bread™ may reference:
- Its role as the original clinical dietary intervention bread
- Its use in formal doctoral and academic studies
- Its foundation in the Baking as Lifestyle Medicine protocol, developed over more than a decade
Other breads in the Diversity Bread range follow the same principles, but they are not part of the published clinical work. Bakers licensed to use Botanical Blend Flour must not reference the research or make health claims unless they are baking Proven Bread™ under a specific agreement.
This protects the scientific and legal integrity of the work, while maintaining the clarity, credibility, and ethical grounding of the Diversity Bread system.