Objective: To assess whether germinating pulses and beans are a potential source of vitamin C in rations for refugee communities with poor vitamin C status. Design: High pressure liquid chromatographic assessment of vitamin C content of a range of legumes following germination in light and dark and after cooking. Results: Many species of pulses produced signi®cant quantities of vitamin C up to ®ve days following germination in both light and dark although cooking caused a marked loss of ascorbate. Conclusion: Germination of approximately half of the seeds of the pulse constituents of many basic rations would be likely to generate, within a 3±5 d germination period, suf®cient ascorbate to provide the 10 mg needed to protect adults against the development of scurvy. Sponsorship: Funded in part by the Scottish Of®ce Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department (SOAEFD) while C Riddoch was registered for an MSc at the University of Aberdeen.