General information
This is a concentrated tomato product, made from fresh tomatoes, without any other additives than salt, sugar, spices and flavour.
Tomato paste concentration level (the percentage of dry matter in the product) varies from a minimum of 7% for a tomato purée to 36% minimum for triple concentrate. The tomato paste described here should be 28 - 30% concentrated, with long shelf life.
The product shall be made of natural total soluble solids obtained from substantially sound, mature red tomatoes (Lycopersicon/Lycopersicum esculentum P. Mill) strained or otherwise prepared to exclude the majority of skins, seeds and other coarse or hard substances in the finished product (Codex Stan 57-1981).
The product must not contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and be free from radioactive residues/elements. It cannot contain any substances originating from micro-organisms or any other poisonous or deleterious substances such as anti-nutritional factors, heavy metals, pesticide residues or toxins in amounts which may represent a hazard to health. Analysis of microbiological, chemical contaminant, toxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues must certify the product is “fit for human consumption”. The supplier shall submit related Lab reports / Declarations.
Several small containers are preferable to one large container.
Importation of food is always subject to acceptance from the national authorities, based on their national specifications; check these before purchasing.
Impact on the local, national, or regional market availability and prices should be carefully looked at before purchasing large quantities.
Specifications
For all aspects of the product, unless described otherwise below, the standard of Codex Alimentarius last edition applies, including for the packaging.
Specifications vary with national regulations. Below you will find the most commonly used specifications for tomato paste.
Please refer to HQ whenever offered specifications differ from these standard specifications, as these will need to be approved by a food specialist prior to purchase.
For laboratory testing, provide minimum 5 tins per batch.
TOMATO PASTE, 28-30% concentrate, canned, long preservation
|
Colour |
The product shall be a red coloured homogeneous paste, without visible tomato skin and seeds residue. |
|
Lumps and masses |
Free |
|
Peel and seeds |
Free |
|
Mineral impurities (sand) |
Free |
|
Artificial colouring materials |
Free |
|
Starch content |
Free from any traces |
|
Sucrose |
Free |
|
Organoleptic |
- Smell: should be free from any abnormal odour
- Absence of burnt taste, fermented taste and smell
|
|
Stability test |
No pressure increase, pH difference not more than 0.5, no microbiological growth after 7 days under ISO7218 |
|
Consistency/Thickness |
4 - 11 cm/30 seconds max by Bostwick scale at 12 Brix |
|
Dry / solid matter concentration
(Brix), excluding salt |
28% min. |
|
Total acidity as citric acid |
3% (as is) or max 7 % of dry matter |
|
pH |
3.9 - 4.5 max. |
|
Salt |
3% maximum |
|
Volatile acidity as acetic acid |
1% max. of dry matter |
|
Microbiology
|
|
|
Heavy metals
|
|
|
Brand |
To be indicated |
|
Origin |
To be indicated |
Additional country-specific specifications
Syria/Jordan
|
Fibre |
2% max. |
|
Authorized preservatives / additives |
600 ppm max. benzoic acid and salts |
|
Shelf life |
2 years from manufacturing date. Remaining shelf life not less than 1 year at date of delivery |
|
Production date |
24 months max. from date of delivery |
Iraq
|
Fibre |
2% max. |
|
Authorized preservatives / additives |
600 ppm max. benzoic acid and salts |
|
Shelf life |
2 years from manufacturing date. Remaining shelf life not less than 1 year at date of delivery |
|
Production date |
< 1 year from date of delivery |
Lybia
|
Shelf life |
Minimum 3 years from manufacturing date |
|
Production date |
< 1 year from date of delivery |
Yemen
|
Authorized preservatives / additives |
600 ppm max. benzoic acid and salts |
|
Shelf life |
2 years from manufacturing date. Remaining shelf life not less than 1 year at date of delivery |
|
Production date |
< 1 year from date of delivery |
Primary packaging
Food grade can of net weight as per order hermetically sealed, showing no sign of corrosion at the welded joints or inside, and no deformation.
Can to offer easy opening system, or to be delivered with folded can opener.
Secondary packaging
In export carton boxes of double corrugation of 10kg net.
Cartons to resist without any damage 6m high stacking for 6 months without deterioration, and a minimum of 10 manual handlings.
The sealing of the outer box is with glue, 50mm tape or strapping, capable of resisting a tropical climate (humidity and sunshine) for six months. Tape overlaps of 10cm minimum.
Marking
As per Codex STAN 1.
Each can to be marked with a label showing:
- Name of the product
- Name of the manufacturer
- List of ingredients
- List of nutritional values
- Lot/Batch identification (can be date of production if day is included)
- Free from culturally restricted components
- Net content weight in g
- Date of production printed or stamped on the can
- Date of minimum durability, declared as "best before" printed or stamped on the can
Each carton box, same as above plus number of pieces per box.
Minimum documentation required for quality assurance from the supplier.
To be established by an official body:
- Certificate of inspection
- Health Certificate
- Weight and Quality Certificate
- Certificate stating whether GMOs may be included in the product
- Non-radioactivity Certificate
Other documentation needs to be provided according to the purchase agreement.
Latest update: 14/05/2020