September is Whole Grains Month

You may have seen our Certified Whole Grain category on site or have seen Whole Grains Stamp on our packaging, but weren’t really sure what it all means. For those of you who are new to whole grains (or not so new), here is a quick guide:

What is a Whole Grain?

All grains start life as a whole grain. The whole grain is the entire seed of a plant, that when harvested, will continue to have the grain left in its “whole” state. To be considered a whole grain, these grains need to include three edible parts – the bran (the multi-layered outer skin of the edible kernel), germ (the embryo of the grain with the ability to sprout), and endosperm (the germ’s food supply). In the fields, the grain is protected from sunlight, pest, water, and disease by an inedible outer husk.  This outer husk is removed during harvesting, leaving the whole grain with all three of the original parts. 

How do you know if you are choosing a Whole Grain?

To help customers identify which products at Shiloh Farms are truly “Whole Grain”, we have a membership with the Whole Grain Council to add their Stamp to our packaging. This Stamp features a stylized sheaf of grain on a golden-yellow background with a bold black border.

On the Shiloh Farms packaging it is printed black and is located on the left-side of the packaging, alongside our other certifications (circled in blue ink):

In order for Shiloh Farms to add the Stamp onto our packaging, we must file information about each new product that we would like to have as part of Whole Grain Stamp program. All products are carefully reviewed by the Whole Grains Council and are approved or denied the use of the Stamp. Companies must also sign a legal agreement that they will abide by all the rules and guidelines of the Stamp program. This means that you can trust the Stamp to help you locate legitimate products containing at least half a serving or whole grain.

How do I use the Stamp?

Shiloh Farms uses the 100% Whole Grain Stamp which means all of the grain ingredients are whole grain. To be able to use this Stamp, there is a minimum requirement of 16g (a full serving of whole grain per labeled serving), for products using the 100% Stamp. This Stamp also includes a reminder for the latest governmental guideline of eating three servings (48g) of whole grains each day.

For example, the Shiloh Farms Hulless Barley has a Stamp that reads “46g or more per serving. This means you are receiving 46g in one serving of the Hulless Barley; and thus, pretty much filling the recommended three serving or more of whole grains per day! 

For more information on wonderful world of whole grains, please visit the Whole Grains website at:
 https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101