Is Dave's Killer Bread Clean?

The Short Answer

Dave's Killer Bread is Acceptable, but proceed with caution if you are watching your sugar or inflammation levels.

It is significantly better than conventional brands like Wonder or Nature's Own because it is Certified Organic, non-GMO, and free from artificial preservatives and dough conditioners like Is Datem Safe|DATEM. However, it relies on organic canola oil for moisture and organic cane sugar for flavor.

The "21 Whole Grains" loaf has 5 grams of added sugar per slice. Two slices of toast equal the sugar content of a glazed donut.

Why This Matters

Bread shouldn't be dessert.

Most store-bought breads are chemical concoctions disguised as food. We've covered this in Is Store Bread Bad, where we detailed how manufacturers use emulsifiers to fake freshness. Dave's skips the worst additives, which is a huge win.

But Dave's solves the texture problem with sugar and oil.

Real bread requires three things: flour, water, salt. Maybe yeast or starter. When you add oils and sweeteners, you are making a shelf-stable cake. For the health-conscious consumer, the high Omega-6 content in canola oil and the blood sugar spike from cane sugar are valid concerns.

What's Actually In Dave's Killer Bread

Here is the breakdown of their most popular loaf, 21 Whole Grains and Seeds:

Organic Whole Wheat — The base is solid. Certified organic means no synthetic pesticides.
Organic Cane Sugar — The third ingredient. This is why it tastes so good to children. It's not just for yeast activation; it's for flavor.
Organic Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil — A controversial fat. While "expeller-pressed" is better than chemically extracted, it is still a seed oil high in Omega-6 fats. Oils In Crackers
Organic Wheat Gluten — Isolated plant protein added to make the bread chewy and fluffy. It's processed, but safe for non-celiacs.
Organic Cultured Wheat Flour — A natural preservative that replaces calcium propionate. This is a Green Flag.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

Certified Organic: Guarantees no glyphosate desiccation (spraying wheat to dry it out).
No Dough Conditioners: No azodicarbonamide or DATEM found here. What Are Dough Conditioners
Nutrient Density: High fiber and protein counts per slice compared to standard bread.

Red Flags:

Sugar Content: 5g per slice is excessive. Look for the "Powerseed" loaf (1g sugar) instead.
Canola Oil: Even organic canola can be inflammatory for some.
Glyphosate Residue: Recent 2026 testing found trace levels (~11 ppb). This is likely due to drift and is 10x lower than conventional brands, but it's not zero.

The Best Options

If you love the brand, choose carefully. Not all "Killer" breads are created equal.

Product	Verdict	Why
Powerseed	✅ Recommended	Sweetened with fruit juice (1g sugar), decent protein.
Sprouted Whole Grains	✅ Recommended	Better digestibility, lower glycemic impact. Is Sprouted Bread Healthier
21 Whole Grains	⚠️ Acceptable	High sugar (5g/slice). Treat it like a treat.
White Bread Done Right	⚠️ Acceptable	It's still white flour, even if unbleached. Low nutrient density.

The Bottom Line

1. Read the label for sugar. Don't assume "whole grain" means low sugar. If it has >3g per slice, it's a sweet bread.

2. Swap for Powerseed. It’s the cleanest loaf in their lineup because it ditches the cane sugar.

3. Consider the alternatives. If you want truly clean bread, look for Ezekiel (flourless, sugar-free) or local Sourdough (fermented). Daves Vs Ezekiel

FAQ

Is Dave's Killer Bread actually healthy?

It depends on your definition. Compared to Wonder Bread? Yes. Compared to homemade sourdough or Ezekiel? No. The high sugar content and canola oil make it a "transition food" rather than a health staple.

Does Dave's Killer Bread contain glyphosate?

Trace amounts. 2026 tests showed levels around 10-11 ppb. This is extremely low compared to conventional brands (often 100+ ppb) and is considered safe by standards, but it highlights that widespread contamination affects even organic supply chains.

Is Dave's Killer Bread inflammatory?

Potentially. It contains added sugar and canola oil, both of which can be inflammatory triggers. If you are strictly avoiding seed oils, this bread is not for you.

Why is there wheat gluten in the ingredients?

Dave's adds organic vital wheat gluten to create that soft, chewy texture Americans love. Whole grain bread naturally crumbles; added gluten acts as the "glue" to hold it together. Whole Wheat Vs Whole Grain

References (8)

🛒 Product Recommendations

✅

Sprouted Whole Wheat Bread

Alvarado Street Bakery

A standout sprouted loaf that uses **organic sprouted wheat berries** as the first ingredient. Unlike Dave's, it contains **no added cane sugar** (sweetened only with organic dates and raisins) and is free from added oils.

Recommended

✅

Organic Sprouted Power 'The Big 16'

Silver Hills Bakery

An excellent organic option that rivals Dave's in texture but skips the oil entirely. It uses **nutrient-dense sprouted grains** (oats, rye, barley, millet, quinoa) and keeps the sugar low (1g per slice).

Recommended

✅

Organic Sesame Sunflower Bread

One Degree Organics

This brand goes beyond organic with a **BioChecked Non-Glyphosate Certified** seal, ensuring the lowest possible herbicide residue. It uses sprouted organic wheat and is sweetened minimally with raisin puree rather than refined sugar.

Recommended

✅

Sunseed Sprouted Bread

Manna Organics

The gold standard for purity: **flour-free, yeast-free, salt-free, and oil-free**. It is a dense, cake-like loaf made solely from sprouted organic wheat kernels and seeds, making it a true whole-food staple.

Recommended

✅

Old Fashioned Sourdough Spelt Bread

Berlin Natural Bakery

Made with just three ingredients: **whole grain spelt flour, water, and sea salt**. It uses an heirloom grain that is easier to digest for many people and is completely free of added oils, sugars, and commercial yeast.

Recommended

✅

Rosie's San Francisco Bay Sourdough

Inked Bread Co.

A rare find in the bread aisle: a **Certified Organic** true sourdough with no added sugar or oil. It relies on a slow fermentation process for flavor rather than additives.

Recommended

✅

Organic Whole Wheat Bread

One Mighty Mill

Uses **fresh stone-milled flour** that is ground daily to preserve nutrients often lost in commercial processing. It replaces inflammatory seed oils with **organic extra virgin olive oil**.

Recommended

✅

Keto Bread

Unbun

Finally, a clean keto option. Instead of modified starches and gluten isolates, it uses **blanched almond flour, coconut flour, and extra virgin olive oil**. It is grain-free and free from the gums found in most low-carb breads.

Recommended

✅

Original Keto Bread

Base Culture

A paleo-friendly loaf stored in the freezer to maintain freshness without preservatives. The base is **almond butter and eggs**, with no grains, vegetable oils, or artificial sweeteners.

Recommended

👌

Sprouted Wheat Sourdough

Trader Joe's

A solid budget-friendly option made with **organic sprouted wheat berries**. It is much cleaner than standard loaves but receives a 'caution' for containing **honey** and **organic sunflower oil**.

Acceptable

👌

7-Grain Gluten Free Bread

Canyon Bakehouse

One of the better gluten-free options that uses **extra virgin olive oil** instead of canola. However, it does contain **cane sugar** and **agave syrup**, so it should be treated as a treat.

Acceptable

👌

Gluten Free Sourdough

Simple Kneads

A gluten-free loaf that actually uses sourdough fermentation and whole ancient grains like **buckwheat, quinoa, and teff**. It loses points only for the use of **expeller-pressed sunflower oil**.

Acceptable

✅

Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame Sprouted Whole Grain

Food for Life

The classic flourless standard. It contains **zero added sugar**, **zero oil**, and combines sprouted grains with legumes (lentils, soybeans) to create a complete protein profile.

Recommended

🚫

Honey Wheat Bread

Nature's Own

Do not be fooled by the 'No Artificial Preservatives' claim. It contains **soybean oil**, **monoglycerides**, and **DATEM** (a synthetic dough conditioner), along with added sugar.

Avoid

🚫

Farmhouse 100% Whole Wheat

Pepperidge Farm

Despite the rustic packaging, this is highly processed. It contains **4g of added sugar per slice** (more than some cookies) and uses **soybean oil** and preservatives like **calcium propionate**.

Avoid

🚫

Superior Keto Bread

Oroweat / Arnold

A 'science project' loaf designed to game net carb counts. It relies on **modified wheat starch** and **wheat protein isolate** for structure, plus **preservatives** and **vegetable oils**.

Avoid

🚫

Artesano Bakery Bread

Sara Lee

This bread mimics a bakery texture using chemical softeners. It contains **enriched flour** (stripped of nutrients), **high fructose corn syrup** (in some formulations) or high sugar, and **bioengineered ingredients**.

Avoid

🚫

Classic White Bread

Wonder

The definition of ultra-processed food. It is made from **bleached flour**, **high fructose corn syrup**, and a cocktail of dough conditioners like **sodium stearoyl lactylate**.

Avoid

🚫

King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

King's Hawaiian

These are essentially pastries masquerading as dinner rolls. The second ingredient is **sugar**, and they contain a highly processed **melted butter blend** that includes vegetable oils and preservatives.

Avoid

⚠️

Seeded Bread

Carbonaut

Popular for keto, but highly processed. It uses **resistant potato starch** and **wheat protein** rather than whole food ingredients. While low in blood sugar impact, it lacks nutrient density.

Use Caution

⚠️

Deliciously Seeded

Sola

Uses **resistant wheat starch** and **erythritol** (a sugar alcohol) to lower carbs. These ingredients can cause digestive distress for some and do not offer the nutritional value of whole grains.

Use Caution

🚫

Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread

Udi's

Gluten-free does not mean healthy. This loaf creates texture using **refined starches** (tapioca, potato), **canola oil**, and **corn syrup solids**.

Avoid

🚫

Potato Bread

Martin's

Famous for its yellow color, which comes from **Yellow 5 and Yellow 6** artificial dyes in some versions, alongside **soybean oil** and **calcium propionate**.

Avoid

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Is Dave's Killer Bread Clean?

TL;DR

🔑 Key Findings

The Short Answer

Why This Matters

What's Actually In Dave's Killer Bread

What to Look For

The Best Options

The Bottom Line

FAQ

Is Dave's Killer Bread actually healthy?

Does Dave's Killer Bread contain glyphosate?

Is Dave's Killer Bread inflammatory?

Why is there wheat gluten in the ingredients?

🛒 Product Recommendations

📖 Related Research

Is Store-Bought Bread Bad for You?

What Are Dough Conditioners?

Is DATEM in Bread Safe?

More about Bread & Bakery

Search Crunchy

TL;DR

🔑 Key Findings

The Short Answer

Why This Matters

What's Actually In Dave's Killer Bread

What to Look For

The Best Options

The Bottom Line

FAQ

Is Dave's Killer Bread actually healthy?

Does Dave's Killer Bread contain glyphosate?

Is Dave's Killer Bread inflammatory?

Why is there wheat gluten in the ingredients?

🛒 Product Recommendations

📖 Related Research

Is Store-Bought Bread Bad for You?

What Are Dough Conditioners?

Is DATEM in Bread Safe?

More about Bread & Bakery