Muntons Malted Ingredients Earns Healthy Designation from Whole Grain Council.

SEATTLE -- Muntons PLC, maltsters and malted ingredients manufacturers based in Stowmarket Suffolk, United Kingdom, with a North American office in Seattle, Washington, have announced that their ingredients products have earned the healthy designation of "whole grain." The Whole Grain Council, based in Boston Massachusetts, has determined that Muntons white malt flours, kibbled malts and their malted cereal flakes product lines can all be offered as whole grain products. The distinction is an important one, allowing consumers to make informed and healthy choices. Muntons has had the foresight to highlight these designations for its global food producer customers, and by extension, brewery and food consumers.

"Muntons consistently strives for best quality for our global customers, and healthful choices are part of that quality," said Terry McNeill, Muntons Malted Ingredients International Sales Manager. "We want to give our clients the advantage of assuring their consumers the healthiest choices in the most straightforward way they can--with the option of an easily-recognizable "whole grain" packaging symbol on every product."

"Make at Least Half Your Grains Whole"

The United States' recommended dietary guidelines recommend adults eat 6 to 10 servings of grains each day and that half the amount be whole grains. Whole grains are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Without these healthful ingredients consumers are at increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. (Visit the Food and Drug Administration web site, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/, for more information.)

Most are familiar with the FDA guidelines found on the reverse side of food product packaging, but the Whole Grain Stamp is a prominent and easy way for shoppers to spot whole grain foods. Indeed, the Stamp itself was honored as 2006 Packaging Innovation of the Year. However, not all grains or grain products may be labeled "whole grain." The United States FDA considers whole grain to include "cereal grains that consist of the intact, ground, cracked, or flaked fruit of the grains whose principal components are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact grain." The Whole Grain Stamp makes an easy choice for consumers. "Muntons' food producer clients are some of the best in the world because they holistically offer consumers the best products they can," said McNeill. "We want to contribute to that level of consumer dedication, and the Whole Grain Stamp is but one more way in which Muntons does indeed offer consumer value."

About The Whole Grains Council

The Whole Grains Council (WGC), is a nonprofit consumer advocacy group working to increase consumption of whole grains for better health. The WGC's many initiatives encourage manufacturers to create delicious whole grain products help consumers to find whole grain foods and understand their health benefits help the media to write accurate, compelling stories about whole grains More information about whole grains and the benefits they bring can be found on the Whole Grains web site: www.wholegrainscouncil.org.

About Muntons

Muntons has been producing high quality malt and malted ingredients for more than 80 years. During this time, the company has grown to become a major supplier of malts, malt extracts, homebrew kits, flours and flakes to the food and drinks industry. Based in Suffolk, UK, Muntons is organized into two operating divisions: Muntons Malt, which services the brewing and distilling industries worldwide, and Muntons Malted Ingredients, which focuses on food industries and non-alcoholic beverages. Please visit us at www.muntons.com.