Whole Grain Guidelines Worldwide
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United States – Dietary Guidelines for Americans
“All age groups should consume at least half the grains as whole grains...”. At least three servings of whole grains are recommended for all Americans age 9 and up. (2005) Click here for full text.Canada – Canada’s Food Guide
“Make at least half of your grain products whole grain each day. Eat a variety of whole grains such as barley, brown rice, oats, quinoa and wild rice. Enjoy whole grain breads, oatmeal or whole wheat pasta.” At least three servings of whole grains are recommended for all Canadians age 9 and up. (2007) Click here for full text.United Kingdom – Guidelines for a Healthy Diet
The UK’s “Guidelines for a Healthy Diet” have no specific recommendation for whole grains or even servings of grain overall, although whole grains are mentioned under the heading “Eat plenty of foods rich in starch and fibre…Most people do not eat enough of the starchy, fibre-rich foods like bread, potatoes, rice and pasta and need to eat about half as much again. Wholegrain cereal foods are particularly rich in insoluble fibre, which helps to prevent constipation.” Click here for full text.Australia – The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
“Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain. Wholegrain refers to cereal foods that incorporate all the components of the natural grain, including the bran and germ. The recommended number of daily cereal servings for adults aged 19 to 60 years is four to nine for women and six to 12 for men. A serving equates to two slices of bread; one cup of cooked rice, pasta or noodles; one cup of porridge; one cup cereal flakes; or half a cup of muesli.” (2003) Click here for full text.France – La Santé Vient en Mangeant (Health comes from Eating)
Eat bread and starchy foods at every meal… Whole grains are … rich in fiber. Bread [should be] preferably whole grain or semi-whole grain. Click here for full text.Germany – 10 Guidelines of the German Nutrition Society (DGE)
“Plenty of cereal products - and potatoes. Bread, pasta, rice, grain flakes preferably made of whole grain, and potatoes contain nearly no fat, but plenty of vitamins, minerals, trace elements as well as dietary fibre and phytochemicals. Combine these products with low-fat food items.” Click here for full text.
Denmark – Report of the National Food Institute
In May 2008, the DTU (National Food Institute) issued a detailed report on the health benefits of whole grains that recommended, overall, that Danes consume minimum of 75g of whole grains daily (Based on a 2400 calorie diet; proportionately less for children and for smaller women. For a 2000 calorie diet this would be about 63 g daily.). Click here to download the English summary of the report's recommendations. (60K PDF)
Sweden – Report of Livsmedelsverket (National Food Administration)
In January 2010, Sweden's Livsmedelsverket updated its nutrition advice to focus not just on whole grain bread, but on all varieties of whole grains. Overall, it recommends that Swedes, like the Danes, consume 75g of whole grain per 2400 calories, a level they generalize to be about 70g for most women and about 90g for most men. The report is available in Swedish on their website (using Google translator, the meaning comes through clearly).
Mexico – Norm for Nutrition Guidance
The Mexican Health Ministry, in 2004, released its NOM-043 guidelines stating that, "Consumption of cereals should be recommended, preferably whole grains or their derivates and starchy roots. Their fiber and energy content should be highlighted”. Click here to download the 2006 update of this document, in Spanish. (516K PDF)
Other EU Guidelines on Whole Grains
In 2002, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Nutrition and Food Security program prepared a report comparing Dietary Guidelines in 49 countries in Europe and western Asia. This report noted the following specific recommendations for whole grains:
Hungary: 5-9 unit/day of cereals (mostly whole grains)
Norway: More whole grain products
Germany: 5-7 slices/d of bread (250-350g) of which 2 slices should be whole grain;
Greece: 8 servings/d of non-refined cereals and products: whole grain bread, whole grain pasta, brown rice etc, not including potatoes on daily basis.
Slovak Republic: Increase intake of cereals and cereal products (mainly whole grain products)
Croatia: Bread, grains and preferably whole grain products, rice and potatoes.
Singapore Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
Singapore's Health Promotion Board released guidelines for children through the age of 18, in November of 2007. These guidelines recommend that parents introduce whole grains to babies at age 7-12 months, and make sure their kids are getting at least one serving of whole grain daily. Foods like "brown rice behoon" – the whole grain version of Singapore's popular rice noodles – are suggested. Download Singapore's Guidelines (1.93M PDF)
WHO / FAO
In 2003, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations released a report titled “Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases.” The summary of this report recommended that governments institute policies “supporting the availability and selection of nutrient-dense foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy products).
Health Groups Recommend Whole Grains
(US) American Heart Association
Dietary Recommendations for Children and Adolescents: “Serve whole grain breads and cereals rather than refined grain products. Look for ‘whole grain’ as the first ingredient on the food label and make at least half your grain servings whole-grain. Recommended grain intake ranges from 2 oz. per day for a one-year-old to 7 oz. per day for a 14-18 year old boy.”
Five Healthy Eating Goals: “Eat more whole-grain foods. Like fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods are low in fat and cholesterol and high in fiber. Whole-grain foods include whole-wheat bread, rye bread, brown rice and whole-grain cereal.”
(US) American Diabetes Association
Making Healthy Food Choices: “Choose whole grain foods over processed grain products. Try brown rice with your stir fry or whole wheat spaghetti with your favorite pasta sauce.”
Evidence-Based Nutrition Principles and Recommendations for the Treatment and Prevention of Diabetes and Related Complications (2002): “Foods containing carbohydrate from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk should be included in a healthy diet.”
(US) American Cancer Society
Recommendations for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention: “Choose whole grains in preference to processed (refined) grains and sugars. Choose whole grain rice, bread, pasta, and cereals. Limit consumption of refined carbohydrates, including pastries, sweetened cereals, soft drinks, and sugars.”
(US) American Gastroenterological Association Institute
Recommendations: “Because the purported protective effect of dietary fiber against CRC [colorectal cancer] is demonstrated better by fiber-rich foods (e.g., vegetables, fruits, grains, cereals) than by dietary fiber alone, it is also reasonable to recommend consumption of 5-7 servings of vegetables and fruits per day and generous portions of whole-grain cereals."
(EU) European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice
Recommendations: “The consumption of the following foods should be encouraged: fruits and vegetables, whole grain cereals and bread, low fat dairy products, fish, and lean meat.”
