AN EVALUATION OF GERMINATING BEANS AS A SOURCE OF VITAMIN-C IN REFUGEE FOODS

Objective: To assess whether germinating pulses and beans are a potent ial source of vitamin C in rations for refugee communities with poor v itamin C status.Design: High pressure liquid chromatographic assessmen t of vitamin C content of a range of legumes following germination in light and dark and after cooking. Results: Many species of pulses prod uced significant quantities of vitamin C up to five days following ger mination in both light and dark although cooking caused a marked loss of ascorbate. Conclusion: Germination of approximately half of the see ds of the pulse constituents of many basic rations would be likely to generate, within a 3-5 d germination period, sufficient ascorbate to p rovide the 10 mg needed to protect adults against the development of s curvy.