Is bread ever worth $60? As New Yorkers flock to buy eye-wateringly expensive loaves, nutritionists warn 'Austrian origin and a $60 price tag do not establish nutritional superiority'

From $100 hotdogs to caviar-topped chicken nuggets, several ridiculous food trends have caused a stir on social media in recent years. But the latest trend is arguably one of the most absurd ones yet. A cafe in New York, called Rye, is selling Austrian rye sourdough at an eye-watering price. One loaf will set you back $60 (£45.29), while a single slice with a topping costs up to $14 (£10.57). While you might think these costs would put people off, Rye has proved a huge hit, with hundreds of taste-test videos appearing on TikTok. So, is bread ever worth $60? According to Dr Vanessa Kimbell, the founder of The Sourdough School, the answer is no. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: 'Austrian origin and a $60 price tag do not establish nutritional superiority.' A cafe in New York, called Rye, is selling Austrian rye sourdough at an eye–watering price. One loaf will set you back $60 (£45.29), while a single slice with a topping costs up to $14 (£10.57) Rye's 'signature loaf' is baked daily, and is described as an 'Austrian rye sourdough'. 'Crafted from only four ingredients (time being one of them) and 100% organic rye flour', it explains on its website.'Our loaves ferment for up to 24h, allowing them to reach their peak aroma. 'Giving our RYE the time it needs, also allows it to fully develop the benefits of its high fiber content as the long fermentation process also creates natural pre– and probiotics that support gut health and make it easier to digest. 'We love the process. Rooted in over 50 years of craftmanship practiced at the Auer family's bakery in Graz (Austria), our loaves have yet to meet their rival.'According to Dr Kimbell, wholegrain rye 'can be a nourishing choice'. However, she advises shoppers to choose loaves that contain a wider range of plants. 'An everyday loaf is an opportunity to bring a wider range of plants into our diets,' Dr Kimbell said. 'Why? Fibre provides food for gut microbes, which produce compounds involved in communication between the gut and brain. That understanding that fibre and diversity is central to bread, gut health and mental health.' The bakery also offers half and quarter loaves at a lower price, as well as traditional Austrian open-faced sandwiches on its famous bread ranging from $6 to $14As for whether she'd buy Rye's $60 loaf, Dr Kimbell says she won't be rushing to New York anytime soon to try it. 'I find the celebration of bread as a luxury status symbol offensive,' she explained. Instead, the bread expert advises health-conscious shoppers to consider 'Diversity Bread', which is made from a variety of grains, seeds and botanicals.She added: 'Our latest Diversity Bread, available through Abel & Cole, contains 30 plant ingredients and costs £5.75 for a 500g loaf. 'It represents 15 years of work, launched a fortnight ago and sold more than 1,000 loaves in its first week. It's affordable to most and it's organic.'While many tasters have raved about the bread on TikTok, others have pointed out that Austrian rye bread is a very popular – and cheap – option in Europe. 'Are u kidding this is what we eat everyday in Germany for breakfast for 2€ max,' one user commented on a taste-test video. Another wrote: 'As Austrians, this is honestly so ridiculous to us. This is literally just regular bread from Austria. Back home, you can get a whole loaf for under $5!'And one joked: 'This is the classical dinner in Germany if you have zero energy and nothing else in the fridge.'