Our monthly summary of how you can make the most of your Whole Grains Council membership.

WGC December 2016 Member Newsletter
Dear Oldways Whole Grains Council members,

If you're looking to learn more about formulating products with whole grains, we recommend an article from Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition called, "Whole grain in manufactured foods: current uses, challenges and the way forward." Although it's a few years old, it details multiple opportunities and suggestions for manufacturers introducing whole grains into a broader spectrum of products. One of the coauthors, Alastair Ross, has very kindly offered to send the article to any interested WGC members. If you'd like to read it, you can email Dr. Ross at alastair.ross@chalmers.se.

Our New 50%+ Stamp... Coming Soon!  

Last summer we rolled out the 50%+ checkmark on our website's Stamped Products page, to help consumers find products made primarily with whole grains. This web-only symbol was so popular (with consumers and manufacturers!) that we're introducing a new 50%+ Whole Grain Stamp to designate products in which at least half the grain is whole grain. This Stamp will augment our existing Basic and 100% Stamps, not replace them. 

WGC members are making products with higher and higher whole grain content - and we want to help consumers find your products right in the grocery aisles. Starting January 17, 2017, this new packaging symbol will be available to all Oldways Whole Grains Council members in good standing, for use on US products (except those requiring FSIS review). We will begin rolling out Spanish and Portuguese versions of the new Stamps in March 2017, with other languages being made available on request. We will be working with USDA/FSIS and with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to see when/if the 50%+ Stamp may also be available on FSIS products in the US, and on products in Canada. 

We'll be sending out a dedicated email about the new 50%+ Stamp in early January. If you want to get up to speed early, check out our FAQ or contact Caroline Sluyter (617-896-4832 or caroline@oldwayspt.org).
Participate in Whole Grain Sampling Day March 29, 2017    
 
Would you like to take advantage of a great opportunity to showcase your whole grain products while spreading the word about how delicious whole grains taste? Make sure you sign up to participate in our Whole Grain Sampling Day! Many companies offer discounts, coupons, sweepstakes, or giveaways. Click here to learn more about how manufacturers can get involved.

Participating in Whole Grains Sampling Day is fun, easy and rewarding! But don't take our word for it -- here's what some of our members have said about the event:

"It was really fun and a pretty minimal amount of work. Our fans really enjoyed it and it was a great way to showcase some products they might not have heard of before." - a WGC member who offered numerous social media giveaways

"We had such a blast with Whole Grain Sampling Day yesterday! The samples flew out of our hands and before I knew it, we were out. The FB contest went super well - lots of great interaction from folks. And the winners I chose sounded super excited when I told them this morning." - a WGC member
Caroline's Tip: Register Your International Products for the Stamp

International recognition of the Whole Grain Stamp is growing quickly and we want you to know that your Whole Grains Council membership covers products that you sell outside the US and Canada, too! The Stamp is now on products in 55 countries around the world and more than 22% of all Stamped products can be found outside the United States.

If you sell a Stamped product in multiple countries, make sure we know about it and have each country listed in our database! Consumers around the world rely on our Stamped Products list to find whole grain products available to them locally and we want to make sure your products show up on their search. 
Get Recognized for Local Ingredients with Localize

Are your products made with locally-grown ingredients? Is your company a small, regionally-based business? Our new partnership with Localize can highlight your locally-grown products to shoppers and retailers alike. 

Registering your Localize profile will let you engage directly with grocery buyers to make sales and sourcing easier for both sides. The online platform lets grocery stores search for your products based on characteristics such as, "100% Whole Grain," and, "USDA Organic" -- helping them find exactly what they are looking for: you! Simply follow this link to learn more about this new WGC member benefit and register your profile. It's easy!
Our New Oldways Exchange Newsletter

Those of our WGC members who are nutrition specialists may be particularly interested to learn that Oldways (the WGC's parent organization) just launched its new "news you can use" newsletter geared toward healthcare professionals. The newsletter, called the Oldways Exchange, offers a monthly guide to health studies and nutrition resources available on the Oldways and WGC websites in an easy-to-digest format, saving you time and effort. 

If you're interested in receiving this newsletter, visit our subscription page and make sure to check the box next to the "Health Professionals -- Oldways Exchange monthly resource update" (and any other newsletters you don't want to miss!).  
Caroline Sluyter
Stamp Program Manager

Kelly Toups, MLA, RD, LDN
Program Director
kelly@oldwayspt.org 

Cynthia Harriman
Director of Food and Nutrition Strategies

... and from all of the Oldways and Whole Grains Council staff
Oldways is a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization inspiring good health through cultural food traditions and lifestyles. The Oldways Whole Grains Council is only one of our many successful programs. Check out our website to learn more. 
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