The U.S.
Grain Chain, a farm to fork coalition of stakeholders in the grain industry chaired by the
American Bakers Association (ABA), is celebrating the recommendation published Dec. 29, 2020, in the
2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) to “consume half of your grains from whole grain sources” and the remainder from enriched grains. A foundational piece of the DGAs, the guidelines recognize whole grains are “one of the three food groups that are fundamental constituents of a healthy dietary pattern.”
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) oversee and publish the Dietary Guidelines, the cornerstone of all Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education guidelines. The guidelines shape consumer health decisions and doctor recommendations.
Of importance, the DGAs maintained the existing recommendation for the average healthy American adult to consume six one-ounce (28.4 gram) servings of grain foods daily, with half of those servings coming from whole grains.
For the first time, the DGAs included recommendations for birth to two years. The Grain Chain applauded the recognition of grains as one of the traditional, nutritious first foods for infants. Numerous research studies have demonstrated significant, positive effects of nutrient absorption, improved nutrition quality, and overall wellness from enriched grains at various life stages.
The key takeaways from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans for the grains-based foods industry:
- Grains, both enriched and whole, play a key role in healthy dietary patterns and diet quality;
- Grains are a significant contributor of dietary fiber, a generally under-consumed nutrient for Americans;
- Grains contribute to overall diet quality through key essential nutrients;
- Grains are a delicious, versatile, affordable, and sustainable plant-based food;
- Enrichment and fortification of grains are key contributors to positive public health impacts.
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