DEFINITION
Cereals are annual plants, generally of the gramineous family, yielding grains used for food, feed, seed and industrial purposes, e.g. ethanol; include wheat, maize, sorghum, rice, canary seed, buckwheat and triticale. It has been recommended that the denomination of “cereal crops” be limited to crops harvested for dry grain only, excluding, therefore, crops harvested green for forage, silage, grazing, etc.; and, in the case of maize, harvested green, also for food. [1]
Several factors determine the quality of grains. The Codex Alimentarius provides standards for several grains, such as wheat, sorghum, oat, durum wheat, wheat flour, whole maize, couscous, sorghum grains, rice …. These standards cover characteristics such as moisture, purity, grain quality and appearance. [2]
Couscous: the product prepared from durum wheat semolina (Triticum durum) the elements of which (coarse and fine semolina) are bound by adding potable water and which has undergone physical treatment such as cooking and drying. [3]
Bakery: products which are prepared mainly with cereal flour or cereals and may have undergone a treatment, e.g. baking, steaming, extrusion. Includes categories for bread and ordinary bakery wares as well as sweet or salty fine bakery wares. Ready-made dough can be included in this category.
Bread, rolls, bagels, pita bread, mexican tortillas, croutons, prepared dough, cookies, cakes, muffins, donuts, biscuits, macarons, rusks, cereal bars, pastries, pies, scones, cornets, wafers, crumpets, pancakes, gingerbread, éclairs, croissants, crackers, crisp breads, sponge cakes. [1]
Cereal products: Unprocessed and processed products derived from cereal grains.
Flours, starches, breakfast cereals, pasta (fresh and dried pasta), noodles, batters. [1]
Grains group: Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples of grain products. Grains are divided into 2 subgroups, whole grains and refined grains. [4, 5]
In the EU regulation, Cereals and cereal products category covers unprocessed and processed products derived from cereal grains, and in some cases, as described in subcategories, from roots and tubers, soy beans, pulses and legumes, excluding products from category 7 “Bakery wares”. Subcategory 6.2.2. starches may also cover starches from other botanical sources.
Category 7 – Bakery wares, covers products which are prepared mainly with cereal flour or cereals and may have undergone a treatment, e.g. baking, steaming, extrusion. [6]
