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What is PAS 234:2021 about?
Grains with increased mineral and vitamin content can improve nutrition and human health. PAS 234:2021 specifies requirements for testing and defining iron enriched bean and pearl millet grains that have been enhanced by conventional farming methods so that everyone in the value chain has a consistent tool for verifying and differentiating these grains.
Who is PAS 234:2021 for?
All entities, regardless of size, that are producing, procuring, processing, monitoring and selling iron enriched bean and pearl millet grains for human consumption. It can be used by the entire food supply chain and associated quality and compliance agencies including:
- Procurers and processors of grain
- Food manufacturers of any size and region
- Public health nutritionists, government health departments and food standards agencies
- Seed testing laboratories
- Food retailers
This PAS is primarily aimed at developing countries in Africa, S and SE Asia.
What does PAS 234:2021 cover?
It specifies requirements for iron enriched bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) intended as food for human consumption.
It includes requirements for:
- Class levels of iron concentration
- Sampling guidance
- Packaging
- Labelling
PAS 234:2021 applies only to iron enriched grain and bean produced from seed developed using breeding technologies or agronomic practices such as fertilization. It doesn’t apply to grain and bean that has undergone post-harvest fortification.
NOTE: PAS 234:2021 does not cover standards for all quality characteristics, contaminants (e.g. heavy metals, pesticide residues, mycotoxins and noxious seeds) or nutrient claims for food labelling. Standards and regulations for these components are described elsewhere in Codex Alimentarius and by regional or national authorities.
Why should you use PAS 234:2021?
Grain with an increased mineral and vitamin content can bring significant health benefits. This PAS enables the transparent verification and identification of these grains, which in turn can help accelerate their adoption. Specifically, PAS 234:2021 can benefit:
- Farmers, who can enable trade by verifying that the output from specified grains has an increased iron content
- Governments and their agencies wanting to improve nutrition in staple crops and resulting foods for their population’s health and wellbeing
- Food manufacturers and retailers who will be able to verify that raw materials procured for products have been enhanced by conventional farming methods and contain specified levels of iron that will have beneficial effects on the nutritional properties of their product
- Populations who will benefit from knowing that products are clearly verified
PAS 234:2021 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 on achieving improved nutrition and Goal 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
