Cornmeal Commodity Fact Sheet

WBSCM Material Description and Number

CORNMEAL BAG-HP-25 KG    100609

General Information

Cornmeal is composed of 100 percent degermed corn and fortified for food aid purposes. Corn is planted in the spring and harvested between late summer and early fall. It is grown in most U.S. states with production concentrated in the Midwestern United States. Milling occurs at various locations and with various companies. For more information on cornmeal and milling, visit the North American Millers’ Association: (http://www.namamillers.org/consumer-page/). Cornmeal is typically packaged in 25-kilogram pinch bottom open mouth (PBOM) multiwall polyethylene-lined paper bags that contain an ultraviolet-resistant and an anti-skid coating. High-performance versions of the 25-kilogram bags are available and are required for deliveries to Africa. Cornmeal should be stored in dark, cool conditions for optimal shelf life. For full product specifications refer to the USDA Commodity Requirements Document for cornmeal.

Programming Guidance

Cornmeal may be used in emergency and development settings as illustrated by the 2011 Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR) report decision trees:

  • Emergencies: In an emergency setting, cornmeal may be provided with oil and a pulse in the second phase of emergency food distribution. Either a corn soy blend or ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) should be added as a targeted supplement to this ration for under children under two (U2s). In a longer-term emergency, cornmeal may be provided in Food for Assets, Food for Training, Food for Work as well as Vulnerable Group Feeding and Food for Education Programs.
  • Development: Cornmeal may be used as part of a household ration, along with a pulse and oil, where this is appropriate. Cornmeal may also be provided in Food for Assets, Food for Work, Food for Training, Vulnerable Group Feeding, and for Food For Education programs.

Nutrition/Preparation Information

Cornmeal is a good source of carbohydrates and fiber and is fortified with a micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 (folic acid), B12, and D3 per USDA Commodity Requirements. Recent improvements to the premix will enhance the bioavailability of iron by using the EDTA form, increase zinc and vitamin B12, remove calcium and change levels of the other vitamins and minerals to keep in line with recommendations from the FAQR report. Cornmeal is easily prepared and can be served as a hot cereal, a coating for frying, a meat extender, or made into pancakes, bread, muffins, cookies and desserts. To prepare a basic recipe, combine one cup cornmeal to 4 to 5 cups of water and cook for 15 minutes. For cornmeal recipes and preparation guidance, refer to the North America Millers’ Association (http://www.namamillers.org/issues/food-aid/food-aid-recipes/). 

Nutritional Content

The nutritional values provided in the table below are for the finished product, which consists of degermed, unenriched, yellow cornmeal and micronutrient premix.  The micronutrient values are target levels for vitamins and minerals. The values in the table were calculated using the average intrinsic values from the USDA National Nutrient Database 28 data for Cornmeal, degermed, unenriched, yellow and the USDA CRD for Cornmeal.

 



 Nutrient

Premix per 100g

 Total per 100g (Intrinsic + Premix)

Water (g)

0.0

11.18

Energy (kcal)

0.0

370.00

Protein (g)

0.0

7.11

Total Lipid (fat) (g)

0.0

1.75

Carbohydrate

0.0

79.45

Fiber, total dietary (g)

0.0

3.90

Sugars, total (g)

0.0

1.61

Minerals

 

 

Calcium (mg)

0.0

3.00

Iron (mg Ferrous Fumerate)

0.0

0.00

Iron (EDTA)

4.00

4.00

Iron: total

 

5.10

Magnesium (mg)

0.0

32.00

Phosphorous (mg)

0.0

99.00

Potassium (mg)

0.0

142.00

Sodium (mg)

0.0

7.00

Zinc (mg)

2.40

3.06

Vitamins

 

 

Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid (mg)

0.0

0.00

Thiamin (mg)

0.40

0.54

Riboflavin (mg)

0.40

0.45

Niacin (mg)

4.00

5.00

Vitamin B6 (mg)

0.40

0.58

Folate, DFE (µg)

154.00

184.00

Vitamin B12  (µg)

11.00

11.00

Vitamin A (µg)

110.00

121.00

Vitamin A (IU)

0.0

580.00

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) (mg)

0.0

0.12

Vitamin D (D3)  (µg)

2.00

2.00

Vitamin K (phylloquinone)  (µg)

0.0

0.00

Lipids

 

 

Fatty acids, total saturated (g)

0.0

0.22

Fatty acids, total monosaturated (g)

0.0

0.30

Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated (g)

0.0

0.63

Cholesterol (mg)

0.0

0.00

Other

 

 

Caffeine

0.0

0.00

USDA Commodity Requirements Document

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Comm-Operations/procurement-and-sales/export/pdfs/cm6.pdf

Shelf Life/Best if Used By Date (BUBD)

  • Shelf Life- not available
  • BUBD- 18 months from packaging

 
Sources

U.S. Grains Council. 2012. Key Issues: Food Security. U.S. Grains Council. Retrieved on September 30, 2016 from: http://www.grains.org/index.php/key-issues/food-security

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2015. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 27. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page. Retrieved September 30, 2016 from: http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2012. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 25. Cornmeal, degermed, unenriched, yellow. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page. Retrieved on September 30, 2016 from: http://ndb.nal.usda.gov

United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Services Agency. 2015. USDA Commodity Requirements: CM6 Cornmeal for use in International Export Programs. USDA. Washington, DC. Retrieved September 30, 2016 from: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Comm-Operations/procurement-and-sales/export/pdfs/cm6.pdf

Webb, P., B. Rogers, I. Rosenberg, N. Schlossman, C. Wanke, J. Bagriansky, K. Sadler, Q. Johnson, J. Tilahun, A. Reese Masterson, A. Narayan.  2011.  Delivering Improved Nutrition: Recommendations for Changes to U.S. Food Aid Products and Programming.  Retrieved September 30, 2016 from: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADZ842.pdf