Experts warn of low consumption of whole grain in the EU and say schools are key

Whole grains must be integrated into diets early in life to create healthy habits and curb life-threatening diseases, say experts, who call for the inclusion of grains into the EU School Scheme and public procurement of food.

While sugar and fat have received most of the attention over the past two decades, whole grains like barley and quinoa retain essential nutrients and are a major driver of good health.

For instance, according to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, low whole grain intake was the leading dietary risk factor for deaths in the EU in 2019.

In this event report, Euractiv takes a look at Europe’s low consumption of whole grains and the viability of providing whole grains to children, using the example of a project in Rwandan schools by the Rockefeller Foundation.