Cereals and other grain products
Breakfast cereals like cornflakes and muesli as well as other cereal products such as flour, grains and pasta are made from various seed varieties such as wheat, oats, barley, rye and maize.
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| Download | Description | |||
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| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | ||||
| GMO-free product | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been conclusively determined. Food that contains GMOs must be labelled. Criterion text Products made of cereals and sugar must not contain GMOs in quantities that require labelling. 1 | ||||
| No straw-shortening agents | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Plant growth regulators are plant protection products used in growing cereals to reduce the risk of crop lodging. Minimal or no use of plant growth regulators entails a reduced risk for residues in food and spreading of chemical substances to the environment. Criterion text Unprocessed products made from cereals such as flour, made of wheat, oats and barley must have been grown without the use of plant growth regulators. | ||||
| Cadmium content in the product | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Cadmium that accumulates in the ground can pose long-term health and environmental risks. Cadmium can be absorbed by the root systems of the plants and introduced to arable land through air pollution or commercial fertilisers. Digested sludge and livestock effluents can also contribute to the introduction of cadmium to arable land. Criterion text The cadmium content of non-compound products made of raw wheat and/or oats must not exceed 0.1 mg/kg wet weight.1 | ||||
| Information about origin of the raw material – plant products | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Transparency and traceability within the food supply chain is a prerequisite to being able to monitor both environmental requirements and social requirements within the supply chain. A requirement for information regarding the origin of raw material, along with the possibility for monitoring, ensures traceability for the contracting organisation. Criterion text For food products from vegetable raw material, information regarding the country(ies) of origin of the material(s) shall be available and can be presented upon request during the contract period, including any substitute items. Information regarding the raw material's country(ies) of origin shall contain:
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| Wheat cultivated with BAT-fertilizer | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Production made with less resource demanding and/or cleaning techniques can contribute to reduced climate impact. Criterion text Raw material of wheat in the product must have been produced with electricity from renewable resources1 (hydropower, wind power, solar energy, biofuels, waste heat or Nordic electricity mix) for drying and storage and been cultivated with fertilizer from a production facility which uses nitrous oxide purification. | ||||
| GMO-free products | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is not common in food products within the European market, rather they are primarily found in animal feed. Contracting organisations that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting GMO-free products. Criterion text Products containing fruit and vegetables shall not consist of, contain, or have been created from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Traces of authorised GMO1 are permitted under the condition that they are unintentional or technically unavoidable, and that they do not constitute more than 0.9 per cent of each individual raw material in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed. | ||||
Breakfast cereals like cornflakes and muesli as well as other cereal products such as flour, grains and pasta are made from various seed varieties such as wheat, oats, barley, rye and maize.
In the cultivation of cereals, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are the predominant greenhouse gases resulting from the use of fossil energy, transportation, etc., as well as when nitrogen is converted in the soil and during the production of mineral fertilisers. In the conventional cultivation of cereals and sugar, pesticides are used. Pesticides are used to protect plants and plant products against funguses, pests or competing plants. The use of pesticides is regulated by common EU regulations. As of 1 January 2014, all professional growers across the EU must apply for Integrated Pest Management. The aim is to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides.
A straw-shortening agent is a pesticide used to reduce the risk of lodging on cereals. A minimised use or avoidance of straw-shortening agents means a reduced risk of residues in food and dispersal of chemical substances in the environment.
Cereals and other grain products as well as compound products containing cereals and other grains to at least 20% of the individual product. Requirements for palm oil apply in all products where palm oil is included.
Examples of products to which the criteria apply:
- Flakes
- Flour
- Grains
- Muesli
- Pasta
- Couscous
- Bulgur
- Wheat berries
- Durum wheat
- Buckwheat