BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a new draft definition Wednesday of whole-grain foods, designed to help consumers make healthier eating choices.

    FDA is intended to clear up confusion about which food products actually contain whole grains and which do not -- but make that claim.

    To qualify as ¡°whole grain¡± under the proposed definition, the food product would need to contain the three principal parts of the fruit of the grain -- the starchy inner endosperm, the germ at the heart of the kernel, and the fiber-filled outer bran shell -- in the same relative proportions as they exist naturally, the FDA said.

    Whole grains are a key source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, the Whole Grains Council explains.

    Whole grains include barley, buckwheat, bulgur, corn, millet, rice, rye, oats, sorghum, wheat and wild rice. Foods containing those grains can be promoted as whole grain as long as they are kept from being over-processed and stripped of their health benefits, which is the case for white flour.

    FDA noted grains that have been ground, cracked, or flaked could be considered whole grain so long as the end product still contains all three components. However, many food products are made with refined grain from which the bran and germ have been removed, resulting in a loss of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

    Government dietary guidelines say three servings of whole grains daily will reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A serving is about an ounce - a half-cup of oatmeal, a slice of bread, a cup of cold cereal flakes.

    The FDA changes also mean certain foods once labeled as whole grain will no longer fall in that category ¡ª such as products derived from legumes (soybeans), oilseeds (sunflower seeds) and roots (arrowroot).

    Consumers need a consistent definition for whole grains, said Barbara Schneeman, director of the FDA's office of nutritional products, labeling and dietary supplements.

    The new definition is only a recommendation and is not legally enforceable, except where specific FDA statutes already exist, Schneeman said. There will be a 60-day public comment period on the definition. Enditem

(Agencies)