What does 'whole grain' mean?

We know it’s healthy – but what does it mean?

At its simplest, 'whole grain' means what it sounds like: the whole, intact grains are present in a product.

But it can also mean the grains have been ground, milled, cracked or flaked.

As long as the three parts of the grain – endosperm, germ and bran – are present in the same proportions as in the intact grain, a product can say 'whole grain' on the label.