PAS 233:2021

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What is PAS 233:2021 about?

When grains with an increased mineral and vitamin content are used in food production it can result in significant health improvements. PAS 233:2021 aims to accelerate the adoption of nutritionally enhanced grains by detailing requirements for defining and testing conventionally bred increased zinc content wheat, maize, and rice grains intended for food consumption. 

Who is PAS 233:2021 for?

Those producing increased zinc content wheat, maize, and rice grain for food for human consumption. 

It can also be used by the entire food supply chain and associated quality and compliance agencies, including: 

• Procurers and processors of grain, e.g. traders, millers, and primary food processors of any size
• Food manufacturers of any size and region, to ensure a guaranteed supply chain of nutritionally superior grain
• Public health nutritionists, government health departments, and food standards agencies to facilitate monitoring and control
• Seed testing laboratories
• Food retailers to provide assurance of supply

This PAS is primarily aimed at developing countries i.e. Africa, S, and SE Asia

What does PAS 233:2021 cover?

It specifies requirements for zinc enriched maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) intended as food for human consumption. It includes requirements for:

1. Zinc fortification acceptance levels (mg/kg) for the different grades of grain 
2. Sampling and test methods used to determine zinc levels in the grain
3. Packaging and grain labeling 

NOTE: This PAS applies only to zinc enriched grain produced from seed developed using breeding technologies or agronomic practices such as fertilization. It doesn’t apply to grain that has undergone post-harvest fortification.

Why should you use PAS 233:2021?

It can enable greater transparency in the food value chain, increasing clarity and assurance around conventionally bred increased zinc content wheat, maize, and rice grain for food production. 

This in turn can help accelerate the adoption of these grains, resulting in significant health improvements.

More specifically, it can benefit: 

• Farmers who will be able to verify for the purposes of trade that the output from specified grains has an increased zinc content by conventional methods
• 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 zinc that will have beneficial effects on the nutritional properties of their product
• Governments and their agencies wishing to improve nutrition in staple crops and resulting foods for their population’s health and wellbeing 
• Populations who will benefit from knowing that a product is clearly verified

PAS 233:2021 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.