The release of the newest 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans signals a clear recalibration in how grains are viewed within the modern diet. Updated guidance and visuals place greater emphasis on whole, minimally processed foods, while refined grains are increasingly positioned as foods to limit. Rather than diminishing the role of grains altogether, the Guidelines sharpens the focus on quality, diversity and whole grain content.
For the food industry, this direction mirrors the path DakotaMB has long been on: prioritizing whole grain goodness, specialty grain flours and diversified grain ingredients that deliver fiber, functionality and familiarity without overprocessing.
For product developers and manufacturers, the Guidelines don’t signal restriction. They signal opportunity. DakotaMB is here to help make the most of it.
The updated guidance continues to emphasize whole grains as a key component of healthy eating patterns across life stages. At the same time, it encourages greater balance by reducing overreliance on refined grains and prioritizing ingredients that contribute fiber, micronutrients and functional benefits.
In practical terms, this creates space for innovation. Instead of a single-grain approach, the Guidelines align with formulations that leverage grain diversity, blending whole grains, specialty grains and complementary ingredients to deliver nutrition without sacrificing taste or texture.
As dietary guidance becomes more embedded in consumer awareness, brands are under growing pressure to “show their work.” Ingredient choices matter, and grains are increasingly evaluated not just for performance, but for their nutritional role within the finished product.
We’re seeing this play out across categories:
Rather than working around the Guidelines, developers are using them as a framework for smarter, more intentional formulation.
At DakotaMB, this shift closely mirrors what we’re seeing from our customers. Demand is growing for grain solutions that help brands align with dietary guidance while still delivering on functionality, flavor and processing performance.
From whole meal rye and barley flour to multigrain and specialty blends, our approach supports:
Plus, DakotaMB offers an expansive portfolio of value-added grains, including amaranth, barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, quinoa, rye, sorghum, spelt, teff, triticale and wheat. These ingredients are available in multiple formats—flours, flakes, cuts and custom blends—allowing formulators to align with dietary guidance while maintaining control over texture and functionality.
One area poised for growth is whole grain flours. As brands respond to the push for whole grains, DakotaMB stands out as one of the few companies actively milling specialty whole grain flours, including barley flour and custom blends such as barley-rye flours. These flours provide a practical way to increase whole grain content without sacrificing flavor or processability.
As 2026 approaches, we predict the brands that succeed won’t treat dietary guidance as a constraint. They’ll treat it as a roadmap, using grains strategically to build products that meet evolving expectations around health, taste and integrity.
DakotaMB is on a roll with whole grains. Learn more: https://dakotamb.com/.
