General information
Sorghum is a cereal distributed in many food supply operations, in whole grains or milled.
The type of sorghum has to be determined considering beneficiary food habits.
Ethiopia: Dura white Feterita sorghum.
Uganda/Kenya: Red sorghum.
Sudan: Dura white sorghum.
Sorghum can be stored for a long period of time as whole grains, as long as the storage is properly done.
Fumigation of stocks should be done at least every 3 months, and more often if needed.
Milling should be processed only when the distribution date is known, to avoid long storage of milled products.
Shelf life of milled products is short because the fat content becomes rancid and a milled product is very sensitive to micro-biological contamination. Sorghum meal can be stored a few weeks or months only, depending on the climatic conditions; check before milling.
Importation of food is always subject to acceptance from the national authorities, based on their national specifications; check these specifications before purchasing.
Impact on the local, national, or regional market availability and prices should be carefully looked at before purchasing large quantities.
Specifications
Common part of specifications for all types of sorghum, to include in all contracts:
For all aspects of the product, unless described otherwise here below, the standard of Codex Alimentarius last edition applies, including the packaging.
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
Specifications vary with national regulations. Here below, we give our most commonly used specifications. Refer to HQ if offered specifications are different from our standard specifications. These need to be approved by a food specialist prior to purchase.
SORGHUM, white, 2% broken
|
Type |
White sorghum Fatarita nr 2 or similar |
|
Test weight (Kg/hl) |
To specify |
|
Moisture |
10 - 13% |
|
Organoleptic |
The product shall be fresh, clean and free from any abnormal flavour, odour or colour. It shall be free of any visible yeast and mould (fungus). It should be free from any abnormal external moisture. It should be free from chilling and freezing damages. |
|
Protein content |
7% min. on dry matter basis |
|
Tannin |
0.5% max. (calculated on dry matter by Klaus Daiber method or EU method) |
|
Broken grains |
2% max. (grain pieces or grains passing through a sieve with a circular mesh 1.8mm in diameter) |
|
Grain impurities |
3% max. of grain impurities (grain of other cereals, grains damaged by pests and grains overheated during drying) |
|
Sprouted grain |
1% max. |
|
Miscellaneous impurities |
1% max. (weed seeds, damaged grains, extraneous matter, husks, decayed grains, dead insects and insect fragments) |
|
Weeds |
Nil |
|
Presence of Datura seeds and other toxic seeds or traces of tropane alkaloids |
Nil |
|
Total admixture and defects |
8% max. (inorganic extraneous matter, and filth as contained in the standards and blemished grains, diseased grains, broken kernels, and other grains) |
|
Foreign Matter |
2% max. (all organic and inorganic material other than sorghum, other grains and filth. Extraneous matter includes loose sorghum seed coats and coloured sorghum grains. Sorghum grain shall have not more than 2.0% extraneous matter of which not more than 0.5% shall be extraneous inorganic matter) |
|
Live insects |
Free |
|
Dead insects, including parts, stages and waste |
10 max. per 100 kg |
|
Microbiology
|
|
|
Radionuclide contamination |
- No α (alpha) and β (beta) radiations contamination traces
- Concentration of ϒ (Gamma) rays by artificial gamma emitters (Cs137 and Cs134) must not be more than 30 Bq/kg
|
|
Presence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) |
Nil |
|
Contaminants |
The product shall not contain any contaminants and toxins in amounts which may represent a present a hazard to health |
|
Fumigation |
Product to be fumigated prior dispatch in individual packing |
|
Production |
Crop year to be indicated |
|
Origin |
To be indicated |
|
|
SORGHUM flour
|
Variety |
2% max. other colours permitted |
|
Industrial process |
Includes seed coat removal |
|
Moisture |
14% max. |
|
Ash |
1.5% max. on dry matter |
|
Protein |
8.5% min. protein (Nx6.25) on a dry matter basis |
|
Aflatoxine total |
4 microgram/kg max. |
|
Tannin |
0.3% max. calculated on dry matter |
|
Crude fat |
2.2% to 4.7% |
|
Crude fibre |
1.8% max. |
|
Granularity |
100% of the product must pass through a 1mm sieve |
Packing
Net weight 50kg per bag.
All bags must be clean, dry, undamaged and firmly sewn.
Recycled bags not allowed, nor recycled plastics for making bags.
Close with double stitch both ends of the bags.
Additional 2of % empty spare bags (outer bag only if multiple packaging), with same marking.
Test as per EN276 for PP bags or EN 766 for jute bags: bags should resist without any damage one drop from 1.2m high on the base and 2 drops on each side from 1.6m high.
Different types of packaging are possible. Choice of the right packaging depends on several factors, including the condition of transportation and handling.
a) New woven-polypropylene (PP) bag, weighing 120g per bag.
b) New woven-polypropylene (PP) bag, weighing 120g per bag, lined with the same 120g PP bag, the top edges of the bags sewn together.
c) New jute bag, weighing 370g per bag, lined with woven-polypropylene bag weighing 110g per bag, with the top edges of the bags sewn together.
d) New cotton bag, weighing 180g per bag, lined with woven-polypropylene bag weighing 110g per bag, with the top edges of the bags sewn together.
e) New composite jute/polypropylene bag weighting 335g per bag.
e) New jute bag weighing 600g per bag, for grain only.
f) In some special cases for flour only: a paper bag of 1kg net weight content.
Pallet load
Shrink wrapped pallet, without covering the top of the pallet to let it breathe. Can also be secured with straps, to be re-tensioned regularly as the flour will pack down during transport.
Shrink-wrap film must be removed at time of storing.
Fumigation
Commodities must have been fumigated a maximum of 30 days prior to departure date.
Fumigation products must come from licensed manufacturers and the supplier/retailer must be able to provide full certificate of analysis for the batch to be supplied
Marking
Each bag to be marked with non-toxic ink, to remain readable after a minimum of 10 handlings.
- Name of the product.
- Net weight in kg.
- Date of milling for milled products.
- Date of minimum durability, declared as "best before", for milled products.
- Crop year for grains.
Minimum documentation required for quality assurance from the supplier.
To be established by an official body:
- Certificate of inspection.
- Certificate of origin, including crop year.
- Health Certificate or Phytosanitary Certificate.
- Weight and Quality Certificate.
- Non-radioactivity Certificate.
- Fumigation Certificate (when required).
- Certificate stating whether GMOs may be included in the product.
- Certificate stating absence of GMOs in grain.
Other documentation needs to be provided according to the purchase agreement.
Latest update: 14/05/2020