Grain Label Claims

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July 15, 2022 -

Grain Label Claims

Whole grains must include the entire grain seed - bran, germ, and endosperm. When whole grains are cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked, they still contain naturally occurring nutrients found in the original intact grain.

Examples of Whole Grains

  • Barley
  • Corn/cornmeal/popcorn
  • Millet
  • Oats (Including oatmeal)
  • Brown or colored rice
  • Wild rice
  • Barley
  • Corn/cornmeal/popcorn
  • Millet
  • Oats (Including oatmeal)
  • Brown or colored rice
  • Wild rice

Label Claims

  • 100% whole grain
    • Product contains no refined flour
  • Whole grain
    • At least 51% whole grain by total weight
  • Good source of whole grain
    • 15% to 25% whole grain
  • Made with whole grains
    • May contain a little or a lot of whole grains
  • Multigrain
    • A mixture of grains, possibly all or mostly refined grains
  • Refined
    • Processed grain containing just the endosperm. During processing, some nutrients such as fiber are removed
    • Refining creates a finer texture and extends the shelf life of the product
    • Examples: white rice, all purpose flour, couscous, pearled barley

Pseudo-cerealWhole grain label

  • Plants that produce seeds or fruits that are consumed and used as grains
  • Sometimes called pseudo-grains
  • Often used as a gluten-free substitute for grains
  • Typically high in protein
  • Examples: quinoa, buckwheat, chia, amaranth

Health Claims

  • Good source of fiber - Products containing 2.5 grams or more per serving
  • Enriched - Some of the nutrients that were removed during processing are added back into the product
  • Gluten free - Food containing less than 20 parts per million of gluten
  • Fortified - Adding nutrients that are not naturally present in a product (example- folic acid and iron)

Shopping Smart

  • Always check the ingredients list for whole grains
  • Do not rely solely on packaging or product color to identify whole grains
  • The Whole Grain Council Stamp is a visual marker used to inform consumers about the amount of whole grain in a product

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