An actuating mechanism for a toaster, and in particular a bread identification actuating mechanism for a toaster, comprises a toast frame arranged in a housing, a sliding rack capable of moving upwards and downwards, and a control circuit, a toast rack being coupled to the sliding rack, a bracket being fixed to one end of the toast rack, the bracket being hinged to the sliding rack: wherein the toaster actuating mechanism is provided with a sensing device for identifying an angular displacement of the bracket, and the bracket drives a light barrier, the sensing device being arranged on a movement tack of the light barrier, the light barrier being capable of blocking a sensing light passage of the sensing device, the sensing device being coupled to the control circuit via a data line.