Last updated on 8-8-2025 by Elise Grimm
Why do we study the consumption of wholegrain products according to guidelines?
- A balanced diet plays an important role in maintaining and promoting health. The Superior Health Council provides food-based dietary guidelines tailored to the Belgian population, aiming to reduce illness, premature death, and the overall disease burden caused in part by unhealthy eating habits.
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Wholegrain products are an important source of multiple carbohydrates, dietary fibre, plant proteins, vitamins and minerals. They mainly contain vitamins B1 and B3, and iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc. Wholegrain bread is also a good source of iodine (when using iodised salt). Research shows that wholegrain products support gut health and are linked to reduced risks of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
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The Superior Health Council recommends that adults consume at least 125 g of wholegrain product per day.
How do we study the consumption of wholegrain products?
- Trained interviewers conducted two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls to record all the foods and drinks participants had consumed on the previous day. These recalls were carried out in a standardised manner using a specialised computer program (GloboDiet®).
- Wholegrain products intake was assessed as habitual intake (also known as usual or long-term intake), representing the average daily intake over the long term. This method accounts for natural day-to-day variations in what and how much people eat, offering a more accurate picture of typical dietary habits over time. This is particularly important when evaluating whether a population meets dietary recommendations. All intakes mentioned in the results below refer to the mean habitual intake, unless stated otherwise.
- The statistical tool Statistical Program to Assess habitual Dietary Exposure (SPADE) was used to estimate habitual intake distributions based on the short-term data collected through the 24-hour dietary recalls.
- In addition to the 24-hour recalls, the respondents (or parents in the case of children) completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire: they were asked to indicate how often they consumed a specific food or food group in the last 12 months. The response options were: Never, less than 1 time per month, 1-3 times per month, 1 time per week, 2-4 times per week, 5-6 times per week, 1 time per day, 2-3 times per day, more than 3 times per day. Based on this, the proportion of the population that never eats wholegrain products was assessed.
- The detailed methodology can be found here.
What did we include as “wholegrain products”?
- Based on the recommendation of the Superior Health Council, we analysed two groups: the more conservative “wholegrain products” and the broader group “wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain)”:
- “Wholegrain products” includes bread, rusks, wraps, cereals, flour, rice, pasta and breakfast cereals labelled as “wholegrain”. It does not include partially wholegrain or multigrain products.
- “Wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain)” includes the same items as above but also includes partially wholegrain or multigrain products.
- The proportion of the population never eating wholegrain products was calculated based on the following Food Frequency Questionnaire items:
- Brown bread and/or wholegrain bread (multigrain bread);
- Wholegrain breakfast cereals;
- Brown rice;
- Wholegrain pasta, pasta products.
KEY RESULTS
The population aged 3 years and older eats on average 19 g of wholegrain products per day. When partially wholegrain and multigrain products are also included, this increases to 53 g per day.
Only 1% of adults meet the recommended minimum of 125 g of wholegrain products per day. When partially wholegrain and multigrain products are also included, this increases to 8%.
People with a low level of education have a lower intake of wholegrain products compared to those with a high level of education
People living in Flanders have a higher intake of wholegrain products than those living in Wallonia
About half of the population never eats wholegrain breakfast cereals (57%), wholegrain rice (55%) or wholegrain pasta (46%)
By age and sex
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- In Belgium, the mean intake of wholegrain products is 19 g/day for the population aged 3 years and older. The median intake is 8 g/day.
- There are no differences in mean intakes of wholegrain products between the sexes, except for older adults (65 years and older) where men (28 g/day) have a higher intake than women (20 g/day).
- Mean intakes of wholegrain products are lower in children (3-9 years) and adolescents (10-17 years) (13 g/day) than in adults (18-64 years) (20 g/day) and older adults (65 years and older) (24 g/day).
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- In Belgium, the mean intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) is 53 g/day for the population aged 3 years and older.
- Overall, men have a higher intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) (58 g/day) than women (47 g/day). This difference is most pronounced in adults (18-64 years) (58 vs 47 g/day) and older adults (65 years and older) (82 vs 63 g/day).Mean intakes of wholegrain products are lower in children (3-9 years) and adolescents (10-17 years) (13 g/day) than in adults (18-64 years) (20 g/day) and older adults (65 years and older) (24 g/day).
- Mean intakes of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) are lower in children (3-9 years) and adolescents (10-17 years) (36 g/day) than in adults (18-64 years) (53 g/day) and older adults (65 years and older) (72 g/day).
Proportion of the population aged 18 years and older consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products per day, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- Only 1% of adults meet the recommendation of consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products per day.
- 1% of women and 2% of men meet this recommendation, while 1% of adults aged 18-64 years and 2% of adults aged 65 years and older meet this recommendation. However, it is not possible to conclude from the available data whether men or older adults are more likely to meet the recommended daily intake of 125 g of wholegrain products.
Proportion of the population aged 18 years and older consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) per day, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- 8% of adults meet the recommendation of consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) per day.
- Men are more likely to meet this recommendation (12%) than women (5%), both among adults aged 18-64 years (10% vs 4%) and older adults aged 65 years and older (19% vs 7%).
- Adults aged 65 years and older are more likely to meet this recommendation (13%) than adults aged 18-64 years (7%).
Proportion of the Belgian population aged 3 years and older that never consume wholegrain products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice and pasta), by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The proportion is calculated based on the food frequency questionnaire items for “Brown bread and/or wholegrain bread (multigrain bread)”, “Wholegrain breakfast cereals”, “Brown rice” and “Wholegrain pasta, pasta products”. Individuals who reported never consuming each of these items were considered as never consuming wholegrain products. As brown bread is combined with wholegrain bread, the resulting proportion is an underestimate.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- In Belgium, 6% of the population aged 3 years and older never eat wholegrain products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice and pasta).
- Never eating wholegrain products does not differ by sex.
- Young adults (18-39 years) are less likely to never eat wholegrain products (3%) than children (3-9 years) (8%), adolescents (10-17 years) (10%) and older adults (65 years and older) (6%).
Proportion of the Belgian population aged 3 years and older that never eat wholegrain products, by type of source (bread, breakfast cereals, rice or pasta), Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The proportions are calculated based on the food frequency questionnaire items for “Brown bread and/or wholegrain bread (multigrain bread)”, “Wholegrain breakfast cereals”, “Brown rice” or “Wholegrain pasta, pasta products”. They include the individuals who reported never consuming the specific item.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- Only 9% of the population never eat brown bread and/or wholegrain bread.
- More than half of the population never eat wholegrain breakfast cereals (57%) or wholegrain rice (55%).
- Almost half of the population never eat wholegrain pasta (46%).
By educational level
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- People with a low level of education have a lower mean intake of wholegrain products (16 g/day) compared to those with a medium (21 g/day) or high level of education (22 g/day).
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- People with a low level of education have a lower mean intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) (46 g/day) compared to those with a medium (56 g/day) or high level of education (57 g/day).
Proportion of the population aged 18 years and older consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products per day, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- The percentage of adults meeting the recommendation of eating at least 125 g of wholegrain products per day does not differ according to the level of education.
Proportion of the population aged 18 years and older consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) per day, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- The proportion of adults meeting the recommendation of eating at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) per day does not differ according to the level of education.
Proportion of the Belgian population aged 3 years and older that never consume wholegrain products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice and pasta), by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The proportion is calculated based on the food frequency questionnaire items for “Brown bread and/or wholegrain bread (multigrain bread)”, “Wholegrain breakfast cereals”, “Brown rice” and “Wholegrain pasta, pasta products”. Individuals who reported never consuming each of these items were considered as never consuming wholegrain products. As brown bread is combined with wholegrain bread, the resulting proportion is an underestimate.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- People with a low level of education are more likely to never eat wholegrains products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta) (9%) than those with a medium (3%) or high level of education (2%).
By region
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- The mean intake of wholegrain products is higher in Flanders (22 g/day) than in Wallonia (15 g/day).
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- The mean intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) is higher in Flanders (65 g/day) than in Wallonia (34 g/day).
Proportion of the population aged 18 years and older consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products per day, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- In Flanders, 2% of adults meet the recommendation to eat at least 125 g of wholegrain products per day, compared to 1% in Wallonia. However, it is not possible to conclude from the available data whether adults in Flanders are more likely to meet the recommendation.
Proportion of the population aged 18 years and older consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) per day, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- The proportion of adults meeting the recommendation of eating at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) is higher in Flanders (13%) than in Wallonia (3%).
Proportion of the Belgian population aged 3 years and older that never consume wholegrain products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice and pasta), by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The proportion is calculated based on the food frequency questionnaire items for “Brown bread and/or wholegrain bread (multigrain bread)”, “Wholegrain breakfast cereals”, “Brown rice” and “Wholegrain pasta, pasta products”. Individuals who reported never consuming each of these items were considered as never consuming wholegrain products. As brown bread is combined with wholegrain bread, the resulting proportion is an underestimate.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- People living in Wallonia are more likely to never eat wholegrains products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice and pasta) (10%) than those living in Flanders (4%).
By year
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (g/day) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The mean intake of wholegrain products in the population aged 3 to 64 years did not change between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023 (16 g/day and 18 g/day).
Mean habitual intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) (g/day) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean intake refers to the estimated mean habitual intake, calculated from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The mean intake of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) in the population aged 3 to 64 years decreased between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023 from 57 g/day to 48 g/day.
Proportion of the population aged 18 to 64 years consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products per day, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The proportion of adults aged 18-64 years who meet the recommended daily intake of at least 125 g of wholegrain products did not change between 2014–2015 and 2022–2023 (1%).
Proportion of the population aged 18 to 64 years consuming at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) per day, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Children (3–9 years) and adolescents (10–17 years) are not included, as the dietary guidelines set by the Superior Health Council applies only to adults.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The proportion of adults aged 18-64 years who meet the recommended daily intake of at least 125 g of wholegrain products (including partially wholegrain and multigrain) decreased between 2014–2015 and 2022–2023 from 12% to 7%.
Proportion of the Belgian population aged 3 to 64 years that never consume wholegrain products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice and pasta), by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
- The proportion is calculated based on the food frequency questionnaire items for “Brown bread and/or wholegrain bread (multigrain bread)”, “Wholegrain breakfast cereals”, “Brown rice” and “Wholegrain pasta, pasta products”. Individuals who reported never consuming each of these items were considered as never consuming wholegrain products. As brown bread is combined with wholegrain bread, the resulting proportion is an underestimate.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The proportion of the population aged 3 to 64 years who never eat wholegrain products (bread, breakfast cereals, rice and pasta) has decreased from 8 % to 5% between 2014–2015 and 2022–2023.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Food-based dietary guidelines: Wholegrain products, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/food-based-dietary-guidelines/wholegrain-products