Whole grains are made up of the entire grain kernel with nothing removed. The entire grain consists of the bran, germ and the endosperm. In contrast, “refined” or “enriched” grains usually have had two of the three parts removed. Whole-grain products can be identified by reading the ingredient list. Typically, if the ingredient list shows "whole wheat," "wholemeal," or "whole corn" as the first ingredient, the product is a whole-grain food item. Whereas, terms such as "enriched" and "refined," among others, could indicate that the food lacks whole grain. 

Consumers searching the grocery aisles for whole grain foods need to look for the Whole Grain Stamp on packages to help them find an authentic whole grain food.

Additional Resources:
http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/identifying-whole-grain-products