On April 23, 2021, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) announced that it had worked together with companies, including Sara Lee® and Thomas’®, to ensure that the companies provide additional information quantifying their products’ whole grain content.  CSPI notes that this disclosure will help consumers make informed decisions about the grains they consume and enable them to build a diet that meets the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 50% whole grain recommendation.  USDA’s recently published 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend Americans consume half of their grains from whole grain sources and the remainder from enriched grains.

CSPI and the companies agreed that “whole grain” claims will be accompanied by a prominent disclosure of the percentage of the grains that are whole grains.  For example, the companies will present their claims along with percentages as follows: “Sara Lee® White Made with Whole Grain Bread (32%),” “Thomas’® Plain Made with Whole Grain Bagels (25%),” and “Thomas’® Made with Whole Grain English Muffins (29%).”  Additionally, CSPI and the companies agreed that the words “made with” be more prominent (i.e., at least 75 percent as large as the words “whole grain”) when “made with whole grain” claims appear on the products.

In January 2021, CPSI also worked with Wonder Bread so that the company could provide additional information on its product labels that quantify the product’s whole grain content.