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PAG/UNU guideline no. 6: Preclinical testing of novel sources of food
PAG/UNU guideline no. 12: The production of single-cell protein for human consumption
PAG/UNU guideline no. 15: Nutritional and safety aspects of protein sources for animal feeding

Probably no activity of the former Protein Advisory Group of the United Nations System has been more useful or influential than its issuance of Guidelines for the development of new protein sources for animal and human feeding. Guideline No. 6 on the Preclinical Testing of Novel Sources of Food has become the international standard for judging when new protein sources can be safely subjected to trials in human subjects. Guideline No. 12 was developed subsequently to find additional criteria for single-cell protein produced on petroleum hydrocarbons and intended for human consumption. Guideline No. 15 was designed to insure that new protein sources for animal feeding would not cause problems when the animals consuming them or their products were incorporated into human diets. In view of the lapse of over 10 years since these guidelines were originally issued, it was deemed appropriate to re-examine them in the light of subsequent experience and accept revisions as might be indicated.

To accomplish this, the United Nations University invited each of the three scientific unions principally concerned, the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), the International Union of Food Scientists and Technologists (IUFoST), and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), to supply delegates to a small task force for the specific purpose, and several additional consultants were added. Three of these revised Guidelines appear on the following pages. The changes are minor, and it is anticipated that they will continue to be of value in guiding the development of new protein sources for animal and human feeding.

Guideline No. 7, on Clinical Evaluation of New Protein Sources, was also reviewed at the same time, but is being somewhat more extensively revised. A new version will appear in the next issue of the Bulletin. The Bulletin will continue to publish up-dated versions of the PAG Guidelines from time to time, and such new ones as may be developed under the auspices of SCN.