Brown rice accepted by FDA as whole grain

ARLINGTON, Va. Brown rice, a 100 percent whole grain food, joins the recognized ranks of healthful whole grains, according to an announcement this week from the Food and Drug Administration that will allow brown rice food labels to bear the whole grain health claim, the USA Rice Federation announced Thursday.

Consumers can now be on the lookout for brown rice labeled with the FDA whole grain health claim: “Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers.”

“Rice is the most popular grain around the world, which makes brown rice a great choice for increasing whole grain intake,” stated Joann Slavin, professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. “In the United States, where chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancers are common, encouraging whole grain brown rice consumption could have a significant public health impact.”