pasta - shortages of durum wheat

ifonlyitwaseasier

it appears that waitrose have run out :eek: :eek: :eek: of their own brand pasta.

durum wheat supplies are getting short across europe and canada is running low so may be competing for european supplies. the problems are due to 2 bad harvests on the trot

(information from The Grocer magazine)


i'm going to buy some later!

BARGAINHUNTER!

Im off to stock up then - no doubt prices will go up again as a result of this!

ali1972

I noticed on my last shopping trip that Tesco have brought out a whole range of rather inventive pastas. Instead of my usual Tesco own brand wholewheat spaghetti this week, I bought a pack of their own brand "Protein Spaghetti" which is wholewheat durum wheat spaghetti fortified with lentil flour, chickpea flour and peas (I think). It tastes just the same to me, actually. One wonders whether it's a cunning ploy to make the supply of durum wheat go further! I also noticed "Spelt Fusilli" amongst other things.

Incidentally they keep them all over in the whole food section, not the pasta section, in my local branch.

ifonlyitwaseasier

thanks ali, must have a gander

lightisfading

ali1972 wrote: »

I noticed on my last shopping trip that Tesco have brought out a whole range of rather inventive pastas. Instead of my usual Tesco own brand wholewheat spaghetti this week, I bought a pack of their own brand "Protein Spaghetti" which is wholewheat durum wheat spaghetti fortified with lentil flour, chickpea flour and peas (I think). It tastes just the same to me, actually. One wonders whether it's a cunning ploy to make the supply of durum wheat go further! I also noticed "Spelt Fusilli" amongst other things.

Incidentally they keep them all over in the whole food section, not the pasta section, in my local branch.

I may be wrong but I think spelt flour is an alternative for people who are wheat intolerant.

the protein spaghetti sounds good, actually (i'm a vegetarian and can happily eat meal after meal of carbs and veggies.. probably not a good thing

Bargain_Rzl

Since the price of pasta skyrocketed a few months back, I've taken to buying a lot more wholewheat pasta. It was always a more expensive option in the past, now it's cheaper - and better for you.

I like the taste, too, though it probably isn't for everybody.

deebee

M&S have a buy one get one half price offer right now - best buy is 500g spaghetti @ 41p, so buy 2 for 60p - worth stocking up! their pasta sauces are on the same offer too

ali1972

lightisfading wrote: »

the protein spaghetti sounds good, actually (i'm a vegetarian and can happily eat meal after meal of carbs and veggies.. probably not a good thing

Just compared the nutritional values on the packet of protein spaghetti to their normal wholewheat spaghetti:

Per 100g portion the protein option has about 3g more protein, just under 1g less fat, but only half the amount of fibre.

I'll probably go back to the non protein option as I prefer to up my fibre, but I'm not veggie so can afford to!

dronid

According to one of my Marguerite Pattens during the war they used to add soya flour to pasta making something called soyaghetti. Good for milk puddings apparently. Never know, we could see something similar again soon!

Tibbie's_mum

BARGAINHUNTER! wrote: »

Im off to stock up then - no doubt prices will go up again as a result of this!

About 8mths ago wholewheat spaghetti was 21p for 500g, recently I've been paying 49p. We get through loads, I think I may have to stockpile, in case it continues going up.