The has become the first Australian food manufacturer to commit to a wholegrain breakfast cereal range.
The Sanitarium Health Food Company has become the first Australian food manufacturer to commit to a wholegrain breakfast cereal range.
In launching this initiative, Australia’s largest health food company has established a stringent new ‘Wholegrain Nutrition Standard’ for their breakfast cereals that guarantees a minimum of 51% of total ingredients will be wholegrain.
Healthcare experts believe Australia is facing a looming health crisis with around 60% of Australian adults overweight or obese, 25% suffering from diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism, 15% suffering from heart disease, 51% with high cholesterol, and up to one third will be diagnosed with cancer.
Cathy McDonald, dietitian and manager of the Sanitarium Nutrition Service, said one of the biggest factors in helping control these diseases is to eat more whole plant foods, particularly plenty of wholegrain foods. International data shows around 90% of consumers don’t eat enough wholegrains as part of their regular diet.
Although there are no Australian figures on wholegrain consumption, most experts would agree the situation in Australia is similar, according to Sanitarium.