Refined grains are often highlighted as a food that is over-consumed by Americans, with recommendations to limit or reduce intake in healthy dietary patterns. However, enriched and fortified refined grain food products, including bagels, tortillas, rolls, and bread, are a key source of micronutrients in the U.S. diet. Modeling the Contribution of Enrichment and Fortification […]
Diet Quality
Study Links Grain Foods to Healthier Diet Patterns, Metabolic Health and Everyday Accessibility (September 2025)
A new study published in Nutrients, which analyzed the diets of more than 14,000 Americans over five years, found that both whole and refined grain foods play a role in improved diet quality, nutrient intake and everyday accessibility.
White Paper: History and Public Health Benefits of Enrichment and Fortification of Refined Grains (March 2025)
Explore the rich history and role of refined grain enrichment and fortification in improving public health.
Perspective: Whole and Refined Grains and Health Evidence Supporting “Make Half Your Grains Whole” (May 2020)
Dietary guidelines encourage consumers to “make half their grains whole,” yet debates continue about refined grains and grain-based foods (GBFs). This article counters misconceptions, advocating for a balanced intake of whole-grain foods (WGFs) and refined-grain foods (RGFs).
Grain Foods in US Infants Are Associated with Greater Nutrient Intakes, Improved Diet Quality and Increased Consumption of Recommended Food Groups (November 2019)
Grain foods may play an essential role in the diets of U.S. infants, according to an analysis of infant data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study examined relationships between grain consumption, nutrient intake, diet quality, and food group consumption among infants aged 6 to 23 months.
Association between Grain Intake, Nutrient Intake, and Diet Quality of Canadians: Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey–Nutrition 2015 (August 2019)
Canada’s Food Guide emphasizes whole grains as the primary choice of grain products, but does higher whole-grain consumption always improve diet quality? This study analyzed nationally representative data from the Canadian Community Health Survey–Nutrition 2015 to explore the relationship between grain consumption, nutrient intake, diet quality, and obesity rates in Canadians.
