Milling & Baking News - February 8, 2011 - 18

Nutrition and Health 

Shrugging off industry feedback, guidelines critical of reﬁned grains
WASHINGTON — Recommendations in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans strongly encourage consumers to avoid “refined grains.” The final guidelines, released Jan. 31, were largely in line with a June 2010 report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The guidelines are published every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to offering guidance to the public and the nutrition community, the guidelines establish the scientific and policy basis for all federal nutrition programs. The guidelines have been published since 1980. Refined grains come under criticism in the guidelines from the outset of the 112-page report. In an introductory section offering an overview, the guidelines feature “two overarching concepts” recommended, including maintaining calorie balance over time and focusing on intake of nutrient dense foods and beverages. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the 2010 version both identified foods and food components that are over-consumed. In 2005, the D.G.A. highlighted saturated fats, trans fatty acids, cholesterol, added sugars, salt and alcohol. The 2010 version of foods and food components to reduce is basically the same, with “solid fats”

grain intake), pizza (11%), grainbased desserts (10%), and tortillas, burritos and tacos (8%), according the report. The 2010 D.G.A. recommended that refined grains be replaced with products made with whole grains so

Sources of enriched grains in the diet
All other categories 9.5% Pancakes, waffles, french toast 2.2% Yeast bread 25.9%

Pretzels 2.3% Ready-to-eat cereals 2.4% Crackers 2.8% Quick bread 3.4% Burgers Rice and rice 2.9% Potato/corn/ mixed dishes other chips 4.4% 3.8%
Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Pizza 11.4% Grain-based desserts 9.9% Tortillas, burritos, tacos 8.0% Pasta and pasta dishes Chicken and 6.7% chicken mixed dishes 4.4%

encompassing both saturated fats and trans fatty acids, sodium substituted for salt and refined grains added to the list. Major sources of refined grains in the diets of Americans are yeast bread (26% of total refined

that at least half of all grains eaten are whole grains. “Americans currently consume too much sodium and too many calories from solid fats, added sugars and refined grains,” the D.G.A. said. “These replace nutrient-dense

Mixed reviews on guidelines from grains foundation
RIDGWAY, COLO. — While applauding the vigorous encouragement to increase intake of whole grains in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Grain Foods Foundation was critical of the report’s continued use of “refined grains.” The official G.F.F. statement follows: “The Grain Foods Foundation applauds the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee members for their scrutiny of the research which continues to show the importance of both whole and enriched grains in a healthful diet. “We agree fully with the committee’s emphasis on the importance of calorie balance and physical activity. Likewise, encouraging Americans to choose from nutrient-dense foods for their daily calorie intake is important. Grain foods are an essential part of a balanced diet that can help Americans meet their nutrient requirements. “We also support the recommendation that Americans consume at least three one-ounce servings of whole grains per day, which is nearly three times what the average adult is currently eating. Research shows that whole grains can help lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. Whole grains also improve satiety and regularity.
18 / February 8, 2011 Milling & Baking News

“That said, we’d like to clarify the committee’s use of the word refined grains, as there are a variety of non-whole grain products which provide health benefits. For example, enriched grains represent an important, nutrient-dense group of foods essential for a balanced diet and healthy weight. Enriched grains are a source of essential nutrients such as B vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin and niacin as well as folic acid and iron. In fact, enriched grains are the number one source of folic acid in Americans’ diets. They are especially important for women of child-bearing age, as acknowledged by the recommendation that they consume 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. Since 1998 when the F.D.A. mandated that enriched grains be fortified with folic acid, the rate of neural tube birth defects has decreased by approximately one-third in the U.S. The need for folic acid is particularly critical among Hispanic women, who are twice as likely to have a baby born with a neural tube defect. C.D.C. acknowledges that enriched grains, rather than supplements, are responsible for lowering the rate of neural tube birth defects as they are the largest source of folic acid in the American diet.” MBN

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Milling & Baking News - February 8, 2011

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