About
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), commonly known as bajra in India, is a drought-tolerant whole-grain cereal widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia and Africa. It is consumed as flatbreads (rotis), porridges, and flour-based products, and is nutritionally valued for its high content of iron, zinc, magnesium, and unsaturated fatty acids.
Safety summary
Pearl millet is broadly recognised as safe for the general population and carries no formal Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), as it is a whole-food cereal grain rather than a food additive. Its primary nutritional limitation is the presence of anti-nutritional factors—phytic acid, polyphenols, and tannins—that significantly reduce the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc; processing techniques such as soaking, fermentation, or milling substantially mitigate this effect. Ergot contamination of bajra crops is a documented food-safety hazard capable of causing human poisoning, and regulatory standards (FSSAI) mandate that marketed grain be free of ergot, moulds, and living insects.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Regulated under FSSAI Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Chapter 2.4 (Cereals and Cereal Products), clause for 'Whole and decorticated pearl millet grains (Bajra)' — scientific names Pennisetum glaucum, Pennisetum americanum, Pennisetum typhoideum. Quality standards: moisture ≤13% by mass (whole and dehulled), extraneous matter ≤1% by mass (mineral matter ≤0.25%, animal-origin impurities ≤0.10%), other edible grains ≤2%. Grain must be free from added colouring matter, moulds, weevils, ergot, abnormal flavours, and obnoxious substances. Classified under food category 06 — Cereals and Cereal Products (sub-categories 06.1/06.2) per FoSCoS licensing framework. Version 1 effective 01 September 2023.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1other. Sorghum and Millets in Human Nutrition – FAO Food and Nutrition Series No. 27. fao.org
- 2PubMed. Poisoning by ergoty bajra (pearl millet) in man. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 – Chapter 2.4: Cereals and Cereal Products (Version 1, 01.09.2023), 2023. fssai.gov.in
- 4PubMed. A Review of the Potential Consequences of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) for Diabetes Mellitus and Other Biomedical Applications, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. Pearl Millet: A Climate-Resilient Nutricereal for Mitigating Hidden Hunger and Provide Nutritional Security, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6PubMed. Pearl millet minerals: effect of processing on bioaccessibility, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
