Contact NAMA

North American
Millers’ Association


600 Maryland Ave SW,
Suite 825 West
Washington, DC 20024

TEL: 202.484.2200
FAX: 202.488.7416

EMAIL: generalinfo@namamillers.org

Industry Partners

The Whole Grain Opportunity

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines issued by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services provided a new opportunity for the grain-based food industry to take center stage. The guidelines recommend six-ounce equivalents servings of grains a day with at least three-ounce equivalents in the form of whole grains.

In 2006 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made an effort to clarify the definition of whole grains for the food industry. NAMA formed an ad hoc committee to study FDA’s recommendations and to formulate a position for the milling industry.

The FDA published a document defining whole grains and providing guidance on the labeling of whole grain products. FDA defines whole grains as “Cereal grains that consist of the intact, ground, cracked or flaked caryopsis, whose principal anatomical components - the starchy endosperm, germ and bran - are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact caryopsis - should be considered a whole grain food.” NAMA supports this definition. To many industry partners, FDA’s document fell short of providing the guidance needed to help consumers choose products that will give them the health benefits of whole grains. NAMA expects the FDA to continue to more clearly define whole grains and how manufacturers can label products.



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