ATLANTA — Americans still have work to do to meet a Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 goal of making at least half their total grain intake be from whole grains. Whole grain intake accounted for 15.8% of total grain intake among adults age 20 and over from 2013-16, according to a study from the National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study, which may be found here, reported whole grain intake has increased from 12.6% of total grain intake in 2005-06. Percentages in the study differed by sex, age groups, ethnicity and income.

The percentages from 2013-16 were 16.7% for women and 14.8% for men. Adults age 60 and over, at 19.7%, ate more whole grains than adults of the ages 20-39, at 12.9%. The percentage was lowest for Hispanic adults, at 11.1%, which compared to non-Hispanic whites, at 16.5%, non-Hispanic blacks, at 13.7%, and non-Hispanic Asians, at 18.3%.

Families with incomes greater than 350% of the federal property level on average made 17.8% of their total grain intake be from whole grains, which compared to 14.8% for families with incomes greater than 130% to less than or equal to 350% of the federal poverty level and 12% for families with incomes less than or equal to 130% of the federal poverty level.

The National Center for Health Statistics used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture combine to update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans every five years. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel (bran, germ and endosperm).