Mustard Seeds Class, Grade and Lot Evidence

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-17Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$1.9B

Producing countries tracked

9

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

3

Trade corridors

3

Latest reviewed evidence

The Canadian Grain Commission's Official Grain Grading Guide, effective August 1, 2026, classifies domestic mustard seed as yellow, brown, oriental or mixed and uses representative portions from the cleaned sample: 5–25 grams for damage, 5–25 grams for other classes, at least 500 grams for ergot and 100–500 grams for Sclerotinia. These are classification and inspection procedures, not results for an offered lot, proof of planting suitability, current availability or price.

CGC yellow mustard-seed diameter lower bound

2

millimetres; typical upper bound 3 millimetres · Official Grain Grading Guide effective August 1, 2026

CGC oriental mustard-seed width lower bound

1.2

millimetres; typical upper bound 2.0 millimetres · Official Grain Grading Guide effective August 1, 2026

CGC mustard-seed damage representative-portion minimum

5

grams; representative portion range 5–25 grams · Official Grain Grading Guide effective August 1, 2026

CGC mustard-seed other-classes representative-portion minimum

5

grams; representative portion range 5–25 grams · Official Grain Grading Guide effective August 1, 2026

CGC mustard-seed ergot representative-portion minimum

500

grams to the working sample · Official Grain Grading Guide effective August 1, 2026

CGC mustard-seed Sclerotinia representative-portion minimum

100

grams; representative portion range 100–500 grams · Official Grain Grading Guide effective August 1, 2026

Yellow, brown, oriental and mixed mustard remain separate classes

The Canadian Grain Commission classifies domestic mustard seed as yellow, brown, oriental or mixed and describes physical size and colour characteristics for the named classes. Mixed mustard is not a synonym for a single class. Atlas retains the declared class, species and variety where relevant, class-composition result, production origin, crop year and the authority and date behind any classification instead of merging observations under a generic mustard label.

Food, crush, planting and treated seed stay separate

Food or condiment seed, seed sold for crushing, certified or commercial planting seed and chemically treated seed differ in intended use, purity, germination, treatment, destination controls, package and liability. Atlas records intended use, treatment status, varietal and purity evidence, germination and seed-health results where relevant, package labels and destination requirements. A food-grade or crush-grade description does not establish suitability for planting, and treated planting seed is not food.

Grade factors require a representative cleaned sample

The Canadian guide specifies representative portions for damage, conspicuous admixtures, other classes, distinctly green seeds, heated seeds, ergot and Sclerotinia, with percentages assessed on the net clean sample. Its grading factors include shrivelling, mould, rime, insects, weathering, sprouting, green and heated seed. Atlas retains sampling authority, sample and lot identifiers, divider or preparation method, portion mass, inspection date and actual factor results. A grade-table citation or supplier target is not an inspection certificate.

Seed composition and oil output answer different questions

Mustard-seed class, grade and planting evidence describe the seed lot. Mustard oil has separate identity, extraction, refining, fatty-acid, erucic-acid and storage evidence, while meal has its own composition and intended-use requirements. Atlas keeps seed, expressed oil, volatile or essential oil and meal observations in their respective product records and requires a documented extraction or conversion basis before relating values across outputs.

A class or grade does not establish a delivered mustard-seed price

A yellow, brown, oriental or mixed classification, a published grade tolerance or a representative-sample procedure does not establish current availability, transaction value or delivered cost. A physical comparison still needs permitted current observations for the exact class, variety where relevant, food, crush or planting use, treatment status, grade and test results, origin, crop, quantity, package, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, route costs and information vintage. Atlas withholds a physical estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.

Questions procurement teams ask

Are yellow, brown and oriental mustard seeds the same class?

No. The Canadian Grain Commission identifies them as separate classes with different typical physical characteristics. Mixed mustard is also a separate designation when the class composition does not meet the single-class basis.

Are mustard seed and mustard oil directly comparable products?

No. Seed class and grade describe the incoming agricultural lot. Oil depends on seed identity, extraction yield and process, refining and a separate composition and quality record.

Does a published mustard-seed grade table prove an offered lot's grade?

No. A lot needs representative sampling, preparation on the stated basis, actual factor results, inspection authority and traceability. The published table only defines the reference method and tolerances.

Can food mustard seed and planting seed be treated as interchangeable?

No. Planting seed may require varietal identity, purity, germination, seed-health and treatment evidence that food or crush lots do not provide. Treated seed must also remain outside food channels.

Which fields make mustard-seed offers comparable?

Declared species and variety where relevant, yellow, brown, oriental or mixed class, food, crush or planting use, treatment status, production origin, crop year, grade basis, damage and admixture results, green, heated, ergot and Sclerotinia results, purity and germination where relevant, sample and lot, package, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.