As partner of the Whole Grain Initiative (WGI), ICC is pleased to announce that the Global Definition of Whole-Grain Food, developed by their International Working Group on Whole Grain Definition(s), not only has been approved and endorsed by ICC members, but also by HealthGrain Forum, and the Cereals & Grains Association.

The WGI working group tasked with developing this definition set out to reach consensus on definitions for both whole grain as food ingredient and what constitutes calling a food ‘a whole grain food’.

These definitions are needed to ensure that all global stakeholders (academics, industry, public and government agencies) are clear on criteria to achieve scientific compliance but contribute to consumer confidence by preventing products with a small amount of whole grain being identified as a whole grain food.

Through the WGI, experts from academia, government agencies, and industry from around the globe have collaborated to develop a common global definition. The group considered already widely accepted current definitions and regulations as well as new developments. The WGI Global Whole-Grain Food Definition outlines criteria to use the term ‘whole grain’ in the product name and criteria to highlight the presence of whole grain.

• Definition of a whole-grain food: A whole-grain food shall contain at least 50% whole-grain ingredients based on dry weight.
  
  
• Requirements for designating ‘whole grain’ in the product name front-of-pack: Foods containing a minimum of 25% whole-grain ingredients based on dry weight, may make a front of pack claim on the presence of whole grain but cannot be designated ‘whole grain’ in the product name.

The WGI International Working Group’s definitions can be downloaded any time from the WGI Webpage.