People today go into a panic when they see the word “refined” anywhere near their food. But even though the term has become synonymous with overly processed and unhealthy, refined doesn’t have to be such a dirty word. Remember when refined meant cultured or sophisticated? Developed or precise? Well, it’s time we get the story straight.
We need to remind our consumers that grains are generally divided into two groups: refined and whole. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel—the bran, germ and endosperm. Refined grains refer to grains that are not whole, because they are missing one or more of the aforementioned three key components. This is what happens when grains are milled, to give flour a finer texture and extend shelf life. That’s it! That’s all refined flour is.