ISO/TC 34/SC 4 - Cereals and pulses

This document establishes a method for estimation by sensory analysis of the cooking quality of alimentary pasta. Estimation takes place through the evaluation of the following: — firmness, by chewing; — liveliness, by manual handling; — starch release, by manual handling. This document does not express a preference and only gives an estimate relating to the evaluation of the cooking of the pasta. It does not apply to small pasta shapes usually consumed in soups. This document is applicable to all forms of alimentary pasta produced from durum wheat and to products made from common wheat or a mixture of common wheat and durum wheat. NOTE National regulations can apply. This document has been specifically designed to establish the reference method with a view to the development, approval or monitoring of instrumental or practical methods of sensory analysis.

This document specifies a method for the quantitative determination of 17 mycotoxins in cereals and cereal products (e.g. wheat, maize, husked rice, rice and their products) using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method (UHPLC-MS/MS). The 17 mycotoxins are aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2, fumonisin B3, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and sterigmatocystin. This document does not apply to foods for infants and young children. This document is applicable to other products (e.g. nuts) provided that the method is validated for each individual case. The calibration range of the method and the validated range during the interlaboratory study for each mycotoxin are listed in Table A.1.

This document gives guidance on the measurement of the temperature of grain stored in bulk in storage buildings, silos or any other warehouses, including detection apparatus, temperature sensors, layout of temperature probes, digital display of results and measurement operation steps.

This document establishes general principles for the methods of the determination of hidden insect infestation in cereals and pulses.

1.1 This document specifies four rapid methods for estimating the degree of, or detecting the presence of, hidden insect infestation with sampling (see Clauses 4 to 6) or without sampling (on-site probing, see Clause 7) in a cereal or pulse lot. NOTE The characteristics leading to the choice of rapid method are summarized in ISO 6639-1:2025, Table 1. 1.2 The method by determination of carbon dioxide production (see Clause 4) is applicable to testing whole grains. It does not apply to testing: a) finely ground grain products, as there is a risk that particles of material will be sucked up with air samples; or b) grain products with moisture contents greater than a mass fraction of 15 %, because of the risk of carbon dioxide produced by the products themselves and by microorganisms interfering with the results. In addition, the method does not apply to the rapid testing of grain products onto which carbon dioxide has already been adsorbed in large quantities (e.g. grain stored in a confined atmosphere, when there are clear external indications of heavy infestation). The method is applicable to coarsely milled or kibbled grain products, provided that they have been sieved before testing to remove fine particles and loose insects. The method does not permit the presence of dead adults. 1.3 The whole grain flotation method (see Clause 5) is applicable to detecting hidden infestation in most cereals and pulses but only on a qualitative basis. 1.4 The acoustic method operating on a grain sample (see Clause 6) is applicable to detecting living (and active) insects (larvae and adults before their emergence from a kernel) inside grains in a sample. It does not permit dead adults and larvae or living eggs and pupae (non-feeding stages) to be detected. 1.5 The on-site assessment acoustic method (see Clause 7) is applicable to detecting adult insects and larvae feeding on the grain inside without taking samples. It does not apply to detecting inactive stages (eggs, nymph and moulting).

This document specifies methods of sampling cereals and pulses, in bags or in bulk, for the determination of hidden insect infestation. This document is applicable to grain in any form of storage structure or transit vehicle at any level of trade from producer to consumer.

This document specifies a simplified routine method for the dynamic or static sampling, by manual or mechanical means, of cereals, pulses and cereal products to assess their quality and condition. It is applicable to sampling for the determination of heterogeneously distributed contaminants, undesirable substances and parameters usually homogenously distributed, such as those used to assess quality or compliance with a specification. It is applicable to daily use in the field, and in silos and factories that ship or receive grains. It does not apply to determining insect infestation in a grain lot. Methods for assessing insect populations are provided in ISO 16002 and ISO 6639-2. This document does not apply to seeds. NOTE The sampling of seeds is governed by the rules established by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).

This document specifies a method using a farinograph for the determination of the water absorption of flours and the mixing behaviour of doughs made from them by a constant flour mass procedure or by a constant dough mass procedure. The method is applicable to experimental and commercial flours from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). NOTE This document is related to ICC 115/1[5] and AACC Method 54-21.02[6].

This document specifies a method using an extensograph for the determination of the rheological properties of wheat flour doughs in an extension test. The recorded load–extension curve is used to assess the general quality of flour and its response to improving agents. The method is applicable to experimental and commercial flours from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). NOTE 1 This document is related to ICC 114[5] and AACC Method 54-10[6]. NOTE 2 For dough preparation, a farinograph is used (see 6.2)

This document specifies an amperometric method to determine the content of damaged starch in flour. It is applicable to all flour samples from the industrial or laboratory milling of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). NOTE 1 Wheat can be milled in the laboratory in accordance with the methods described in ISO 27971[9] or in the BIPEA guidance document BY.102.D[10]. NOTE 2 In the absence of validity studies, the results on semi-wholemeal or wholemeal flour, although able to meet the conditions of repeatability given in Clause 9, require careful interpretation.

This document specifies a routine reference method for the determination of moisture content of pulses. This document is applicable to chickpeas, lentils, peas, lupinus and all classes of beans with the exception of soybeans.

This document specifies a routine reference method for the determination of the moisture content of cereals and cereal products. This document applies to: wheat, rice (paddy, husked and milled), barley, millet (Panicum miliaceum), rye, oats, triticale, sorghum in the form of grains, milled grains, semolina or flour. The method is not applicable to maize and pulses. NOTE For moisture content determination in maize, see ISO 6540[5]; and for pulses, see ISO 24557[7].

This document specifies an automatic method for the reference method (see ISO 712-1) for the determination of moisture content of cereals and cereal products using an automatic drying oven. This document is applicable to wheat, rice (paddy, husked and milled), barley, millet (Panicum miliaceum), rye, oats, triticale, sorghum in the form of grains, milled grains, semolina and flour. The method does not apply to maize and pulses. NOTE For moisture content determination in maize, see ISO 6540, and for pulses, see ISO 24557.

This document specifies a method of determining, using an Alveograph, the rheological properties of different types of dough obtained from common wheat flour (Triticum aestivum L.) produced by industrial milling or laboratory milling. It describes the Alveograph test and how to use a laboratory mill to produce flour in two stages: — stage 1: preparation of the wheat grain for milling to make it easier to separate the bran from the endosperm; — stage 2: the milling process, including breaking between three fluted rollers, reduction of particle size between two smooth rollers and the use of a centrifugal sieving machine to grade the products.

This document specifies a method for determining the ash yield by cereals, pulses and their milled products intended for human consumption. The source materials and products covered are: a) grains of cereals; b) flours and semolinas; c) other milling products (bran and high bran content products, shorts); d) mixed cereal flours (mixes); e) cereal by-products other than c) (such as wheat gluten, maize grits, broken rice kernels); f) pulses and their by-products (flour). This document does not apply to starches and starch derivatives (see ISO 3593), to products intended for animal feeding stuffs (see ISO 5984) or to seeds.

This document specifies a method for the quantitative determination of total amino acids using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxy-succinimidyl carbamate (ACQ) derivatization followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) separation and ultraviolet (UV) detection. It specifies a method for the determination, in one single analysis, of the following amino acids: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid (combined with asparagine), cystine (dimer of cysteine, combined with cysteine), glutamic acid (combined with glutamine), glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine and valine. This method does not apply to the determination of tryptophan. This method is applicable to infant and adult/paediatric nutritional formulas, dairy products and other matrices such as cereals. It was validated in infant formulas (milk- and soy-based, including partially hydrolysed and elemental products), toddler formula, adult nutritional powder, UHT skimmed milk, whey powder, sodium caseinate, whole milk powder, bran pet food, dry pet food and breakfast cereal (see Annex A for details).

This document specifies a method for the determination of cadmium (Cd) in cereals. It is applicable to rice, brown rice, wheat and maize by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after extraction with diluted nitric acid (HNO3). The limit of quantification is 0,002 mg/kg; it is approximate and dependent on the sample matrix as well as on the instrument conditions.

This document presents the description and the results of the three studies conducted by United Kingdom, France and Germany related to grain sampling in order to define a harmonized sampling protocol for official controls. These results had been used to draft ISO 24333.

This document establishes the minimum specifications for rice (Oryza sativa L.) that is subject to international trade. It is applicable to husked rice and milled rice (aromatic and not aromatic), parboiled or not, intended for direct human consumption. It does not apply to other products derived from rice nor to waxy rice (glutinous rice).

This document specifies two methods: - a reference method for the determination of the moisture content of maize grains and ground whole maize, groats, grits and maize flour, see Clause 4; - a routine method for the evaluation of the moisture content of maize in whole grains, see Clause 5. The latter is not suitable for use for experts' reports, or for calibration or checking of humidity meters, because of its significant bias to the reference method (see Table B.3).

This document establishes minimum specifications for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains intended for human consumption and which are the subject of international trade. It is also applicable to local wheat trade. NOTE Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is also called "common wheat" in some regions.

This document specifies two simplified routine methods for the determination of the amylose mass fraction of milled rice, non-parboiled. The main difference between the two methods is the dispersion procedure: method A specifies hot dispersion, and method B specifies cold dispersion. Both methods are applicable to rice with an amylose mass fraction higher than 5 %. NOTE These methods describe simplified procedures for the preparation of samples, which are frequently used in routine laboratories. The methods use the same reagents as the reference method (see ISO 6647-1), but omit the defatting step. Rice samples where the amylose mass fraction has been determined by the reference method are used as standards.

This document specifies a reference method for the determination of the amylose content of milled rice, non-parboiled. The method is applicable to rice with an amylose mass fraction higher than 5 %. This document can also be used for husked rice, maize, millet and other cereals if the extension of this scope has been validated by the user. NOTE Amylose values determined with this document can be compared with PDO and PGI legislation.

This document specifies a method for determining the content of impurities of animal origin in wheat flours, with or without additives and having an ash yield not exceeding a mass fraction of 0,75 %, and in durum wheat semolinas. This method permits the separation and quantification of contamination of animal origin, such as insects at all stages of their development and their fragments, rodent hairs and their fragments, and mites.

This document specifies a method for the determination of colour in durum wheat semolina and wheat flour by diffuse reflectance colorimetry. It is applicable to industrial semolina and flour. The method can be applicable to flour obtained from experimental mill.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the biometric characteristics of husked or milled rice kernels.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the fat acidity of milled cereal products. It is applicable to flours and semolinas obtained from wheat and durum wheat, and to pasta. NOTE This document appears to be applicable also to grains, flours and semolinas obtained from maize, and rye flour and oat flakes, but a further interlaboratory test is necessary before confirming this extension of the field of application.

This document specifies a routine method for the determination of bulk density, called "mass per hectolitre", of cereals as grain using manual or automatic, mechanical, electric or electronic mass per hectolitre measuring instruments. NOTE Further details of the measuring instruments are specified in ISO 7971‑2:2019, 6.4.

This document specifies a test method for ensuring the traceability of bulk density, called "mass per hectolitre", measuring instruments through reference to standard measurement instruments. The mass per hectolitre is of commercial importance for grain cereals. Several types of instruments with varying performances exist for measuring it. This document also specifies the performances required of national standards instruments, secondary standards instruments, and measuring instruments used in laboratories or in collection or storage silos.

This document specifies minimum specifications for maize (Zea mays L.) intended for human consumption and which is the subject of international trade.

This document specifies a high performance liquid chromatographic method with immunoaffinity column cleanup for the determination of ochratoxin A in cereals and cereal products. The limit of quantification is 0,2 μg/kg. The method detection limit is dependent on the sample matrix as well as on the instrument.

ISO 16634-2:2016 specifies a method for the determination of the total nitrogen content and the calculation of the crude protein content of cereals, pulses and milled cereal products. This method, like the Kjeldahl method (see References [1] and [6]), does not distinguish between protein nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen. For the calculation of the protein content, various conversion factors are used (see 3.2).

ISO 7304-1:2016 sets out a method for estimation by sensory analysis of the cooking quality of alimentary pasta. Estimation takes place through the evaluation of the following: - firmness, by chewing; - liveliness, by manual handling; - starch release, by manual handling. The method does not express a preference and only gives an estimate relating to the evaluation of the cooking of the pasta; it does not apply to small pasta shapes usually consumed in soups. NOTE This method can be applied to all forms of alimentary pasta produced from durum wheat and to products made from common wheat or a mixture of common wheat and durum wheat as long as the appropriate national regulations allow these raw materials to be used in alimentary pasta. ISO 7304-1:2016 has been specifically designed to establish the reference method with a view to the development, approval or monitoring of instrumental or practical methods of sensory analysis.

ISO 21415-2:2015 specifies a method for determining the content of wet gluten and the gluten index for wheat flours (Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum durum Desf.) by mechanical means. This method is directly applicable to flours. It also applies to common and durum wheat after grinding, if their particular size distribution meets the specification given in Table B.1.

ISO 11085:2015 specifies procedures for the determination of the fat content of cereals, cereal-based products, and animal feeding stuffs. These procedures are not applicable to oilseeds and oleaginous fruits. The choice of procedure to be used depends on the nature and composition of the material analysed and the reason for carrying out the analysis. Procedure A is a method for the determination of directly extractable crude fats, applicable to all materials, except those included within the scope of procedure B. Procedure B is a method for the determination of total fats, applicable to all materials from which the oils and fats cannot be completely extracted without prior hydrolysis. NOTE Most cereals, as well as feeds of animal origin, yeasts, potato protein, compound feeds with milk products, glutens, and products subjected to processes such as extrusion, flaking, and heating, yield significantly higher total fat contents when tested by procedure B than by procedure A. See Annex B.

ISO 5527:2015 defines terms relating to cereals.

ISO 20483:2013 specifies a method for the determination of the nitrogen content of cereals, pulses and derived products, according to the Kjeldahl method, and a method for calculating the crude protein content. The method does not distinguish between protein nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen.

ISO 17718:2013 specifies the determination of rheological behaviour as a function of mixing and temperature increase. It is applicable to all wholemeal and flour samples from industrial or laboratory milling of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

ISO 5530-1:2013 specifies a method, using a farinograph, for the determination of the water absorption of flours and the mixing behaviour of doughs made from them by a constant flour mass procedure, or by a constant dough mass procedure. The method is applicable to experimental and commercial flour from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

ISO 5526:2013 lists the botanical names of the main species of: a) cereals (Clause 3); b) pulses (Clause 4); c) other food grains (Clause 5). ISO 5526:2013 also lists the stabilized plant names of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). Various commonly met synonyms of the botanical names are indicated in an annex.

ISO 17715:2013 specifies the determination of the damage to starch using an amperometric method. It is applicable to all flour samples from industrial or laboratory milling of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

ISO 11747:2012 Standard specifies a method for the determination of resistance to extrusion of milled rice kernels, parboiled or not parboiled, after cooking under specified conditions.

This part of ISO 5530 specifies a method, using an extensograph, for the determination of the rheological properties of wheat flour dough in an extension test. The recorded load?extension curve is used to assess general quality of flour and its response to improving agents. The method is applicable to experimental and commercial flours from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). NOTE This part of ISO 5530 is based on ICC 114.[3]

ISO 6646:2011 specifies a laboratory method for the determination of the yield of husked rice obtained from paddy or parboiled paddy (Oryza sativa L.), and for the determination of the yield of milled head rice obtained from paddy or parboiled paddy, or from husked rice or husked parboiled rice. ISO 6646:2011 is only applicable to abrasive milling equipment.

ISO 520:2010 specifies a method for the determination of the mass of 1 000 grains of cereals and pulses. ISO 520:2010 is applicable to all species of cereals and pulses with the exception of seed lots for sowing purposes.

ISO 24333:2009 specifies requirements for the dynamic or static sampling, by manual or mechanical means, of cereals and cereal products, for assessment of their quality and condition. It is applicable to sampling for the determination of heterogeneously distributed contaminants, undesirable substances, and parameters usually homogeneously distributed like those used to assess quality or compliance with specification. It can be used to determine insects in a grain lot. It is applicable to sampling for assessment of the quality and condition of lots of genetically modified organisms (GMO) but is inappropriate for the determination of the presence of adventitious genetically modified material in non-GM product. It is not applicable to seed grain.

ISO 3092:2009 specifies the determination of the alpha-amylase activity of cereals by the falling number (FN) method according to Hagberg-Perten. This method is applicable to cereal grains, in particular to wheat and rye and their flours, durum wheat and its semolina. This method is not applicable to the determination of low levels of alpha-amylase activity. By converting the FN into a liquefaction number (LN), it is possible to use this method to estimate the composition of mixtures of grain, flour or semolina with known FNs necessary to produce a sample of a required FN.

ISO 712:2009 specifies a routine reference method for the determination of the moisture content of cereals and cereal products. ISO 712:2009 applies to: wheat, rice (paddy, husked and milled), barley, millet (Panicum miliaceum), rye, oats, triticale, sorghum in the form of grains, milled grains, semolina or flour. The method is not applicable to maize and pulses.