About the author
Oonagh Monahan is a Chartered Food Scientist and has worked in and with the food industry for over 25 years. Oonagh now specialises in food business start-up and growth, working with food producers at every stage of their development, from artisan start-ups and on to growth and exporting.

 

In 2019 Oonagh was awarded the Irish Quality Food Award (IQFA) Food Hero trophy and in 2020 the IQFA COVID Frontline Hero - Community Champion award. She was shortlisted for the producers Champion award from Blas na hEireann in 2022. Her book “Money for Jam - the Essential Guide to Starting Your Own Food Business” 3rd Edn. is published by Oak Tree Press (Cork).

Oonagh Monahan

Chartered Food Scientist
Children eating bread

The role of bread in a healthy diet across life stages

Discover the role of bread across life stages. 
Cup and bowl with cereal and fruit

Bread's not just for sandwiches!

Explore how bread can be a great addition at any mealtime. 
Lady smelling bread

What is sensory analysis?

The taste, smell, sound, appearance, and feel of bread.

The evolution of bread

From 14,000-year-old flatbreads to the rise of the iconic white sliced pan, explore the rich history and legacy of breadmaking.
Flour splattered on top of golden grains

A look inside a flour mill

Follow the journey of wheat as it is harvested, tested, and milled into the flour that makes your favourite sliced pan possible.  
A group of young adults posing and smiling in front of tall buildings

White bread x Gen Z

Let’s talk about white bread, the literal main character of the carb world. 
Flour and rolling pin on table

The ingredients we use in making our bread

Uncover the simple ingredients and natural processes behind your daily bread.

Food reformulation – the good news for white bread!

Discover how ongoing reformulation efforts have made your daily sliced pan healthier than ever.  

White bread is a plant-based food

Uncover the plant-based facts behind your daily loaf.  

Kids need carbs

To fuel an active healthy lifestyle, children and teenagers need carbohydrates for energy and growth

Food and its relationship with social media

Separate credible food facts from viral online fiction.  

Food trends

Discover the lasting food trends shaping our diets, from sustainability to healthy convenience and how bread fits into the future of food.  

Bread as a source of protein

Discover why bread has long been recognised as an excellent source of protein. 

Bread and its role in the circular economy

Learn about the meaning of the circular economy.

Bread in stories

From classic fairy tales to modern fantasy and manga, explore the role of bread and bakers in storytelling.  

AI, NPD and other TLAs

Discover how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the bakery industry.

We’ve got the dough!

Discover how bread remains an affordable, nutrient-dense staple in the Irish diet.

Let’s look at labels

Demystify the information on your bread wrapper and learn how to make informed choices about the food you eat.

No crumb left behind

Discover practical storage tips and creative recipes to help you reduce food waste and make sure no slice, heel, or crust of bread goes to waste.  

Waste no bread this Christmas

Learn how to make the most of your holiday food shop with smart storage tips and creative recipes.  

Bread in the movies

Discover why over 200 films and TV shows feature bread as a central theme, reflecting its deep connection to daily life.  

All about flour

Discover the milling process, nutritional benefits, and essential role of wheat flour in breadmaking.  

Bread in song

Uncover the surprising musical history of bread.

Bread and sustainability

Learn how the traditional baking industry is embracing a greener future.

Irish Pride – it’s a matter of pride

Explore the story of Irish Pride, from delivering fresh loaves to thousands of local stores daily to supporting families across Ireland.  

Johnston Mooney & O’Brien - history in the baking

Discover the 187-year history of Johnston Mooney & O'Brien, blending master baking traditions with modern sustainability initiatives  
4 people holding bread

Brennans - today’s bread today

Learn the story behind "Old Mr Brennan" and how 'Today's Bread Today' became a cornerstone of the Irish kitchen.  

Pat the Baker - so fresh it's famous

Uncover how Pat the Baker grew from a home bakery in Co. Longford in 1953 into a multi-award-winning, nationwide household favourite.  
Loaf of bread wit knife

Bread in Art

Take a visual journey through art history and discover why bread has remained a popular muse for artists.  
Bread and avocado

Winter warmers - the toasted sandwich

Now that Winter has firmly taken hold, one thing everyone wants is nutritious, delicious food that will warm us up. 
Pouring breadcrumbs

Bread for Christmas

Discover practical storage tips and festive recipes to ensure zero bread waste this Christmas.  

Bread innovations

Learn how Irish bakers are blending traditional craft with modern innovation  

How much sugar is there in my sliced pan?

Learn the truth about sugar in your sliced pan.

From the farmer to the shopkeeper 

Trace the journey of your daily bread from the farmer's wheat fields to the delivery at your local shop.  

Poetry is like bread

Discover how poets and writers across generations have drawn inspiration from bread.

Bread and salt

Understand why salt is a crucial baking ingredient and how Irish bakers are working to steadily reduce it for a healthier sliced pan.  
basket of food

Bread as part of a healthy lifestyle

Backed by nutritional research, explore how daily bread delivers vital vitamins, minerals, and protein.  

Food allergies - what are they?

Learn the differences between food allergies and intolerances, and how to spot the 14 major allergens on food labels.  

The chemistry of bread

Explore the hidden science of breadmaking.  

Nutritional analysis

Uncover the science of nutritional analysis and learn the EU rules behind everyday food label claims.

The Irish love affair with bread

Explore Ireland's centuries-long relationship with bread.

Why does bread smell so good?

Uncover why the smell of freshly baked bread brings us so much comfort and joy.  
Bread and money

Bread slang

Uncover the history behind popular terms like "dough" and "earning a crust," and see how daily bread became a universal symbol for livelihood.  

Fortification

Explore the role of fortified flour in delivering essential daily nutrients.

The truth about bread

We separate fact from fiction to bust the most common bread myths and highlight the real nutritional benefits of your daily slice.