Kraft to Boost its Whole Grain Content

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Jul 27th 2010 @ 1:00PM

Avoiding being left in the dust of the new health wave, as propelled by Mrs. Obama's meeting with major food markets in May, Kraft announced Monday that it will be pumping up its whole grain content in more than 100 of its products over the next three years.

This move comes after four years of development, the company says, in an effort to increase the use of whole grain without sacrificing the taste consumers have come to know. Despite industry skepticism, Kraft and other major food companies, including ConAgra and Del Monte, recently claimed they've made reductions in sodium; others, in sugar. Last June, Kellogg claimed it would increase fiber by the end of 2010 and last week introduced a line of FiberPlus cereals.

The term "whole grain" signifies an unadulterated product of wheat, something that became less common as major food companies realized that stripping the grain's kernel of its bran, endosperm and germ (all of its nutritional fiber, iron and vitamin content) would produce a finer texture and increase shelf life.

With less accessibility to whole grain, adults now get "at least half of their recommended five to eight ounces of grains per day," the Associated Press reports, as suggested by dietary guidelines.

Kraft products noted to make the shift are Ritz and Premium crackers, which will have whole wheat for the first time, as well as Wheat Thins and Honey Maid graham crackers, which are planned to double or quadruple in whole wheat. If stock shares are any detection of early consumer approval, we'd say a 10-cent rise at closing is a proverbial thumbs up.

Filed Under: Health & Medical, News
Tags: crackers, kraft, nutrition, whole grains, whole wheat, WholeGrains, WholeWheat

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-27-2010 @2:00PM Christine said... This is good news! I happen to LOVE whole-grain products. Good to know that there will be more whole grain options coming up. Thanks for the update!
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7-27-2010 @5:31PM Hart Oldenburg said... A grain remains a carbohydrate--- responsible for cabohydritis, obesity in excess consumption.
More on my discovery: the cause of obesity, diabetes and more---A major challenge to all edibles, healthy or not.
Upon my arrival in North America, December 1951, there was nothing but white bread, healhy folks!
What happened? hartsmartliving.com
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