California may slice away at bread standards and give the 1-pound loaf more competition.
A bill passed by the Legislature and awaiting Gov. Pete Wilson's signature would repeal state weight requirements for commercial bread loaves.Proponents say loaf standards, established in 1921 to protect bakers from unfair competition and consumers from rip-off, are outdated. They say smaller families and people on the run want a smaller loaf that fits their appetite.
"There is no need . . . today to say you've got to bake a certain size loaf of bread," said Don Beaver, president of the California Grocers Association.
The nation's largest wholesale bakery, Continental Baking Co. in St. Louis, supports the bill.
But Ken McEldowney, executive director of the San Francisco-based Consumer Action, said eliminating the 1-pound standard might cause problems.