We eat barley often, almost as often as oats. We
buy organic sproutable barley, soak the seeds for
about 8 hours, drain them, and then rinse and drain
them every eight hours for a couple of days until they
sprout, and then cook them. They're cheaper than
oats and have a different flavor. Barley sprouts are
as far from refined grains as you can get and still
eat grains.
George
FDA: Barley Can Make Healthy Heart Claim
By Associated Press
Fri Dec 23, 11:41 AM UPDATED 6 HOURS 32 MINUTES AGO
WASHINGTON - Roll over oats: Breakfast cereals and other foods that contain
barley also will be able to start claiming they can reduce the risk of
coronary heart disease.
The disease kills 500,000 Americans a year.
Labels on whole barley and dry milled barley products, including flakes,
grits, flour and meal, are expected to start making the claim, the Food and
Drug Administration said Friday in announcing its ruling. The claim is
identical to that already made on many oat products.
The FDA estimates a quarter of the hot breakfast cereals, and another 5
percent of the cold cereals, sold in the United States will start boasting
their health benefits. The breakfast cereal market is worth $7.1 billion a
year, according to the FDA.
Products must provide at least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving to
make the health claim, the FDA said. Scientists believe a high-fiber diet
helps lower cholesterol levels.
The FDA took the action in response to a petition by the National Barley
Foods Council, whose members produce the nation's estimated $864 million
annual barley crop. A unit of Cargill Inc., the Minneapolis-based
agribusiness, helped underwrite the cost of the petition, according to the
council.
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On the Net:
Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/
National Barley Foods Council: http://www.barleyfoods.org/
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.