Originally published December 27 2005
Consumer interest in whole grains reflects growing interest in healthy foods
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Herald Today devotes an article to the current public interest in whole grains, reflecting the trend of growing consumer consciousness in the area of food products and the shift away from Atkins-style diets, which emphasize low carb intake.
Panera has started selling a bread with 16 grams of whole grains per serving.
Cindy Gershen, a bakery, cafe and restaurant owner, takes a phrase from her kids to describe what's happened to the low-carbohydrate diet craze: "It's so 10 minutes ago."
About two years ago, Gershen watched as sales of cinnamon buns and baked goods at her Sunrise Cafe in Walnut Creek, Calif., dropped by as much as 30 percent when diets such as Atkins and South Beach became popular.
Now, she's selling healthier alternatives, including whole-grain banana chocolate bread, oatmeal dishes and whole-grain pastries.
Many bread-related businesses like Gershen's took a hit a few years ago when low-carbohydrate diets spoiled some consumers' appetite for baked goods.
Instead, he said while shopping Monday at Sweet Affair, a cafe and bakery in Walnut Creek, they "usually buy dark," or whole-grain foods.
Many traditional bread companies that had altered their offerings to accommodate low-carb dieters are now focusing on the whole-grain market.
For example, Panera Bread Co., a St. Louis-based chain of bakery cafes, a few years ago introduced a line of low-carb bagels and breads to address the diet craze, but has since reduced the selection from about five products to two.
"I used to have to go to a health food store and get whole-grain muffins from a small producer in Vermont," said Cynthia Harriman, spokeswoman for the Whole Grains Council.
Caryl Levine, co-owner of Lotus Foods in El Cerrito, Calif., said her company, a rice distributor, has seen a major increase in sales of its four whole-grain rice varieties.
For example, sales of brown organic jasmine rice are 14 percent higher than those of white organic jasmine rice.
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