Is there sawdust in bread?
Matthew Wilson
Updated on January 17, 2026
Sometimes such bread did literally contain sawdust – or 'tree flour' as it is also called, as this sounds slightly less inedible. Nineteenth century scientists were able to justify the addition of sawdust to ordinary bread by claiming not only its nutritional value but its digestibility.
What food contains sawdust?
Here's just a sampling of places it popped up.
- Tomato sauce.
- Salad dressing.
- Ice cream bars.
- Whole wheat bread.
- Granola bars.
- Packaged cookies.
- Bagels.
- Frozen breakfast sandwiches.