WGC Recent Accomplishments

The Whole Grains Council continues to spread the word about the health benefits and good taste of whole grains, with scores of media interviews and with many successful programs, including these recent highlights:

Whole Grain Forum in Beijing
At the invitation of Chinese nutrition authorities, WGC senior managers traveled to Beijing to assist the Chinese in offering a nation-wide conference on the health benefits, labeling, and regulation of whole grains. In late 2010, China became the 21st country where shoppers can find the Whole Grain Stamp on foods.

The Whole Grain Stamp identifies 5000 products, in 22 countries
In March 2011, the Whole Grain Stamp passed another milestone, as we registered the 5000th product approved to use the Whole Grain Stamp. As of March 2011, five different language versions of the Stamp are now being used on products in twenty-two countries: United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, China, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Brazil, Panama, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.

"Whole Grains: The New Norm" conference informed industry, media, foodservice
In January 2011, we held the WGC's fifth successful conference in Portland, OR. This event celebrated the many foodservice operations, magazines, schools, government policies, and other circumstances where whole grains are now served, depicted, and hailed, automatically, as the norm. Timely topics included a review of the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (released the day the conference started), the psychology of crafting successful nutrition messages, and a workshop on whole grains in foodservice.

2010 Dietary Guidelines endorsed the Whole Grain Stamp approach of 8 grams
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated every five years, and this time around, one change was a clarification of 8 grams of whole grain – the standard pioneered by the Whole Grain Stamp – as the minimum to consider a food as whole grain. This comes on the heels of new school food regulations earlier in January 2011, that drew on the Institute of Medicine's definition of a "whole grain rich" food as one that contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving.

4th Annual Whole Grains Challenge rewarded foodservice operators
We awarded medals of valor to ten outstanding foodservice outlets that offered whole grain choices regularly during October 2010. Winners spanned ten different categories, including schools, workplace, healthcare, fine dining, and quick serve restaurants. In line with the positive philosophy of Oldways and the WGC, we combed the country to find cafeterias and dining rooms with a creative passion for delicious whole grains, and publicized their efforts as a shining example to others. Winners also received case upon case of free whole grain foods to serve in their operations.

"Chat 'Em Up" contest encouraged consumers to tout whole grains
To celebrate Whole Grains Month in September 2010, we created a fun social media contest called "Chat 'Em Up" where we encouraged people to share their enthusiasm for whole grains with family and friends – and tell us about their efforts. People from across the country responded, with stories about hosting whole grain baking parties; sharing whole grain snacks at work; planning recipe contests with their students; and so much more! Everyone who entered got valuable whole grain product coupons, and a Grand Prize Winner, chosen at random, received a gift basket of whole grain foods.

Throughout every year, the WGC also provides a consumer hotline, by phone and email, to answer whole grain questions from the public. We also offer ongoing support to member companies, answering questions about labeling regulations and ingredients; offering marketing suggestions; and using every positive and practical means possible to encourage the creation of more and better whole grain products.