Visible light photoluminescence (PL) peaking at around lambda = 460 nm is observed from cereals, such as rice, wheat, barley, millet, flour, corn starch, peanut, under illumination of ultra-violet light at lambda = 365 nm. Peak intensity of PL varies with variety and source of the specimens. Distribution of PL intensity over two dimensional PL image of a cereal with a single variety and a single source is found to be fitted with a Gaussian curve. Visible light PL is suggested to be potentially useful technique for the non-destructive and quick evaluation of the cereals and other starchy products. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.