whole wheat flour not always whole grain - Page 2

[Vaquitita]

can you get arthur's brand? i know their package specifies "100% whole wheat with the bran and germ included".

[avendesora]

All I can say is... I love my Nutrimill!

I buy my wheatberries from my organic coop. I know that my flour is never rancid!

Aven

[kaydee]

If a company is selling a product labeled 100% whole wheat, but ther germ has been removed, it is violating FDA recommendations. The FDA uses this definition of "whole grain":

"# Question: What factors should be considered in determining whether a food is a whole grain?

Answer: Cereal grains that consist of the intact, ground, cracked or flaked caryopsis, whose principal anatomical components - the starchy endosperm, germ and bran - are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact caryopsis - should be considered a whole grain food."

Unfortuantely, because these rules are only "guidance," the companies cannot be charged or punished by the government. However, consumers can voice their frustration and point out that they are violating government standards.

More info: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/flgragui.html

[rayo de sol]

What should the label of a whole wheat flour package say so that we know for a fact that it includes the germ?

[mommyshoppinghabit]

Originally Posted by avendesora

All I can say is... I love my Nutrimill!

I buy my wheatberries from my organic coop. I know that my flour is never rancid!

I've got a grain mill too. But do you have to worry about unground wheatberries and other grains from becoming rancid in your pantry or do they keep forever?

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by rayo de sol

What should the label of a whole wheat flour package say so that we know for a fact that it includes the germ?

If it says 100% whole grain wheat, then it would be fine, but if it only says 100% whole wheat, it may not be whole grain. Apparently, the original definition of whole wheat is wheat flour with the bran, but without the germ.

[tinuviel_k]

I've got a grain mill too. But do you have to worry about unground wheatberries and other grains from becoming rancid in your pantry or do they keep forever?

I've never had my grains go rancid. As long as they are stored in a dark, airtight space they should last indefinitly. I store mine in tightly lidded large mason jars in my cubboard.

[avendesora]

Yeah, wheatberries last forever. Here's my Darwinian view that helps me to remember: Survival of the species instincts are strong, even in plants. When a wheatberry is fully intact, it can last and last until it finds just the perfect conditions to sprout and make a new plant. But once it gets broken down, its goal is to make good soil to help other wheatberries grow. So it composts itself quickly.

[JElaineB]

Originally Posted by kaydee

If a company is selling a product labeled 100% whole wheat, but ther germ has been removed, it is violating FDA recommendations. The FDA uses this definition of "whole grain":

"# Question: What factors should be considered in determining whether a food is a whole grain?

Answer: Cereal grains that consist of the intact, ground, cracked or flaked caryopsis, whose principal anatomical components - the starchy endosperm, germ and bran - are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact caryopsis - should be considered a whole grain food."

Unfortuantely, because these rules are only "guidance," the companies cannot be charged or punished by the government. However, consumers can voice their frustration and point out that they are violating government standards.

More info: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/flgragui.html

Thanks for this information. I was able to use this to find more information on the FDA website, specifically this site http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/w...cfr137_06.html that gives definitions of cereal flours and related products (updated April 2006). If I am reading the whole wheat definition correctly (137.200), then in the U.S. something that is labeled "whole wheat" does have to be made with the whole grain. Am I reading that right? It appears that the OP on this thread is from Canada (she mentioned being in BC) so perhaps that is where the confusion is coming in if Canada does not have the same definition?

[USAmma]

I know this doesn't make it right, but can you just add in your own wheat germ?

[mamajessica]

Originally Posted by nicolelynn

Yeah, I also was deceived for awhile at Trader Joe's, as they have Organic Sprouted Multi-Grain bread, which I bought for awhile because I thought it was on par with Ezekiel 4:9. But one day I decided to buy their Organic FLOURLESS Sprouted 7 grain bread. Lo and behold when I compared labels I realized that the stuff I had been buying did infact contain plain unsoaked, unsprouted wheat flour. The later is 100% sprouted whole grains. Go figure.

That's a good tip, I never paid enough attention :

[MidnightCafe]

:

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by JElaineB

Thanks for this information. I was able to use this to find more information on the FDA website, specifically this site http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/w...cfr137_06.html that gives definitions of cereal flours and related products (updated April 2006). If I am reading the whole wheat definition correctly (137.200), then in the U.S. something that is labeled "whole wheat" does have to be made with the whole grain. Am I reading that right? It appears that the OP on this thread is from Canada (she mentioned being in BC) so perhaps that is where the confusion is coming in if Canada does not have the same definition?

Yeah, I think you may be right - it looks like it is different in Canada.

[MidnightCafe]

We buy Bob's Red Mill Whole Wheat Flour. I went to the website, and the website says Bob's Red Mill is made with the whole grain. So, if you want to be sure, that's one brand you can buy for sure & know you've got the whole grain.