Regarding the title of St-John’s bread, here is a reference that cites carob being called St-John’s bread which is one which may be found in many potentially deemed ‘credible’ dictionaries. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/96435/carob http://www.memidex.com/saint-john-bread
It would be easy to say that “Ellen White contradicts the Bible” when unacquainted with the sum total of research that exists on the locust issue. For the simple reason that the discussion is actually an overarching question of exactitude of interpretation: Oxford English Dictionary says this:
“The Greek name akris, properly denoting the insect, is applied in the Levant to the carob-pod, from some resemblance in form; and from very early times it has been believed by many that the ‘locusts’ eaten by John the Baptist were these pods.” (Can’t reference OED for free so: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3610430/Sacred-mysteries.html)
So colloquially in Koine, the actual written Greek word according to Oxford was used to denote the carob pod. This now removes EGW as contradictory from the question because it’s now a decision of interpretation of the word: akris.
Now the question is: what seems to be the most ‘credible’ weight for the contextual meaning of the word. I discuss ‘credibility’ more further below, but here is one 19th Century Scholar: “Locust, akris, Gr., may either signify the insect called the locust, which still makes a part of the food in the land of Judea, or the top of a plant. Many eminent commentators are of the latter opinion.” – [Adam Clarke Commentary – Matthew 3:4]
Again the jury is out, but there is quite a variance of opinion on both sides. So beyond opinions, let’s look at the testimony of nature. Due to the fact that they are intensely migratory, grasshoppers would be an inconvenient and rare source of nourishment to survive on throughout the entire year. [http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/index.html]
Finally, it may be of interest to note that in Rabbinic culture it was customary for people to survive on carob pods alone. Below the Babylonian Talmud cites a specific example (Rabbi Shimeon bar Yohai) of a person living on such a diet for 12 years. Contrast this with the fact there are no references to subsistence on solely grasshoppers (and honey) in any ancient texts I have been able to find (search carob on the page): http://www.come-and-hear.com/berakoth/berakoth_17.html
Also, you can check out The Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary by Francis D Nichol who elaborates more, and concludes that akris refers to the plant.
