TBS/ AFDC 4(293) CD3  
  
  
  
  
 
           
 DRAFT  TANZANIA STANDARD  
              
                               Edible  Almond  oil – Specification  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
    ©TBS 2020  – All rights reserved  
 
 
 
 
   
                                                                                                  TBS/ AFDC 4(293) CD3  
 0 Foreword  
 
Edible almond oil  is derived from the kernel of almond fruit  and is widely used in the food industry .This 
Tanzania standard lays down specifications aiming at ensuring the safety and quality of edible almond 
oil  produced or traded in the country for human consump tion.  
 
In preparation of this Tanzania standard con siderable help was derived from :  
CODEX STAN 210 -1999 (Amended 2015) Codex standard for named  vegetable oils  published by 
Codex Alimentarius Commission   
 
In reporting the results of a test or analysis m ade in accordance with this Tanzania Standard, if the 
final value observed or  calculated is to be rounded off , it shall be done in accordance with TZS 4 .  
 
1 Scope  
 
This Tanzania Standard specifies the requirements, sampling and test ing methods for almond  oil  
intended for human consumption.  
 
2 Normative Reference  
 
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content 
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited appli es. For 
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies  
 
CODEX STAN 192 , General standards for food additives  
TZS 4,  Rounding off numerical values  
TZS 54,  Animal and Vegetable fats and oils – Sampling  
TZS 76, Methods for determination of arsenic  
TZS 109, Food processing units – Code of hygiene — General  
TZS 268, General atomic absorption – Spectro – Photometric method for determination of lead in food 
stuffs  
TZS 288 -1, Animal and vegetable fats and oil s -- Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters -- 
Part 1: Guidelines on modern gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters  
TZS 288 -2, Animal and vegetable fats and oils -- Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters -- 
Part 2: Preparation of met hyl esters of fatty acids  
TZS 288 -3, Animal and vegetable fats and oils -- Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters -- 
Part 3: Preparation of methyl esters using trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH)  
TZS 288 -4, Animal and vegetable fats and oils -- Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters -- 
Part 4: Determination by capillary gas chromatography  
TZS 538 , Packaging and labeling of foods  
TZS 799,  Foodstuffs – Determination of aflatoxin B1, and the total content of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and 
G2 in cere als, nuts and derived products – High\-performance liquid chromatographic method  
TZS 1313 , Fortified edible fats and oils Specification   
TZS 1322, Oils and fats Sampling and test methods – Purity tests  
TZS 1324 , Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Deter mination of peroxide value – Iodometric (visual) 
end point determination  
TZS 1325, Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Determination of saponification value     
                                                                                                  TBS/ AFDC 4(293) CD3  
 TZS 1326,  Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Determination of moisture and volatile matter  
TZS 1327, Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Determination of iodine value  
TZS 1328 , Essential oils – Determination of relative density at 20  ° C– Reference method  
TZS 1329, Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Determination of refractive index  
TZS 1331 , Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Determination of acid value and acidity  
TZS 1332,  Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Determination of unsaponifiable matter -method using 
diethyl ether extraction  
TZS 1335 , Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Dete rmination of copper, iron and nickel content -
graphite furnace atomic absorption  
TZS 1336,  Animal and vegetable fats and oils – Determination of insoluble impurities content  
TZS 1369,  Animal and Vegetable fats and oils – Determination of Butylhydroxyanisol e (BHA) and 
Butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) – Gas liquid chromatographic method  
TZS 1370 , Animal and Vegetable fats and oils – Determination of tocopherol and tocotrienol content 
by High Performance Liquid Chromatography  
TZS 1371, Animal and vegetable fats and o ils — Determination of individual and total sterol contents  
Gas chromatographic method  
TZS 1775,  Animal and Vegetable fats and oils  Detection and identification of antioxidants - Thin-
layer chromatographic method  
 
3 Terms and definitions  
 
For the purpo se of this document , the following  terms and  definitions below shall apply:  
 
3.1 edible oils  
food stuffs which are composed of glycerides of fatty acids of vegetable, animal or marine origin which 
is suitable for human consumption. They may contain small  amounts of other lipids such as 
phosphatides, of unsaponifiable constituents and of free fatty acid s naturally present in the oil.  
 
3.2 vegetable oil  
any of a large group of oils that are esters of fatty acids and glycerol, obtained from the leaves, fruit , or 
seeds of plants.  
 
3.3 edible  almond oil  
edible oil  derived from the kernel of almond fruit  (Amygdalus communis L.).  
 
3.4 virgin almond  oil 
almond  oil obtained, without altering the nature of the oil, by mechanical procedures, for example, 
expelling o r pressing, and the application of heat only. It may have been purified by washing with 
water, settling, filtering and centrifuging only.  
 
3.5 refined almond  oil 
almond  oil obtained, by mechanical procedures and/or solvent extraction and subjected to refi ning 
processes  
 
 
 
 
 
    
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 4 Requirements  
 
4.1 General  requirements  
 
Edible  almond  oil shall  be free from;  
a) adulterants, sediments, suspended or foreign matter, separated water and added colouring or 
flavouring substances; and  
b) rancid odour and taste.  
 
4.2 Speci fic requirements  
Edible almond oil shall comply with  requirements  given in table  1 when tested in accordance 
with the methods specified therein . 
Table  1-Specific  requirements for edible almond oil 
S. No.  Parameter  Requirement  Test method  
i.  Relative densi ty( at 25 oC/water at 20  oC) 0.911 -0.929  TZS 1328  
  
ii.  Refractive index, ( ND 20 o C ) 1.468 - 1.475  TZS 1329  
 
iii.  Saponification value, mg KOH/g oil  183 - 207 TZS 1325  
 
iv.  Iodine value  (Wij’s) , g/100  85– 109 TZS 1327  
v.  Unsaponifiable matter, g/kg, max.   20 
 TZS 1332  
vi.  Fatty acids composition,%of total fatty 
acids  As in Annex A  TZS 288  
vii.  Moisture and matter volatile at 105 o C, % 
m/m, max.  0.2 TZS 1326  
viii.  Insoluble impurities, % m/m, max.  0.05 TZS 1336  
ix.  Free Fatty Acids (FFA)  as oleic acid, % 
m/m,  max.  Refined oils: 0. 3 
Cold pressed and 
virgin oils: 2.0 
 TZS 1331  
x.  Peroxide value, mEq peroxide - oxygen/kg 
oil, max  Refined oils :10  
Cold pressed and 
virgin oils: 15  
 TZS 1324  
xi.  Total sterols(mg/kg)  1590 -4590 TZS 1371  
 
4.3 Food additives  
4.3.1 Refined almond oil  may contain food additives in accordance with CODEX STAN 192 . However, 
food additives shall not be used in virgin or cold pressed oils.  
4.3.2    In refined almond oil the additives may be used subject to tables 2, 3, and 4.             
 
 
    
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4.3.2.1 Antioxidan t 
 
             Table 2  – Requirements for antioxidant in  edible  almond  oil 
 
INS 
No. Antioxidant  Requirements  Test method  
304 Ascorbyl palmitate, mg/kg, max  
500 (singly or 
in 
combination)  TZS 1775  
305 Ascorbyl stearate , mg/kg, max  
307a  Tocopherol, d -alpha - ,  mg/kg, max  
300 (singly or 
in 
combination)  TZS 1370  307b  Tocopherol concentrate, mixed , 
mg/kg, max  
307c  Tocopherol, dl -alpha , mg/kg, max  
310 Propyl gallate , mg/kg, max  100  TZS 1775  
319 Tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) , 
mg/kg, max  120  
320 Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) , 
mg/kg, max  175  TZS 1369  
 
321 Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) 
,mg/kg,max  75  
Any combination of gallates, BHA, BHT, and/or 
TBHQ , mg/kg, max  200 within 
individual 
limits  TZS 1775  
322(i)  Lecithin  GMP  
389 Dilauryl thiodipropionate , mg/kg, max  200  
 
 
4.3.2.2  Antioxidant  synergists   
                     Table 3  —Requirements for antioxidant synergists in edible almond oil  
INS 
No. Antioxidant synergist  Requirements  Test method  
330 Citric acid  
GMP  TZS 1775  
 331(i)  Sodium dihydrogen citrate  
331(iii)  Trisodium citrate  
332(ii)  Tripotassium citrate  
333(iii)  Tricalcium citrate  
384 Isopropyl citrates , mg/kg, 
max 100 (Singly or in 
combination)  472c  Citric and fatty acid esters 
of glycerol , mg/kg, m ax    
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4.3.2.3 Antifoaming agents (deep frying oil)  
Antifoaming agents specified in Table 4 may be used.  
Table 4 — Antifoaming agents  
INS 
No. Antifoaming agent  Requirements  Test method  
900a  Polydimethylsiloxane, mg/kg, 
max 10  TZS  1775  
 
4.4 Fortificati on 
Edible a lmond oil  may be fortified in accordance to  TZS 1313.  
 
5    Hygiene  
 
Edible almond  oil shall be produced, processed, handled and stored in accordance to TZS 109.  
 
6 Contaminants  
 
6.1 Pesticide residues  
Edible almond  oil shall comply with releva nt maximum pesticide residue limits established by th e 
Codex Alimentarius Commission.  
6.2 Soap content  
The soap content shall not exceed 0.005%  when tested according to TZS 1322  
 
6.3. Metals  contaminants  
Edible almond  oil shall comply with  maximum limits e stablished by Codex Alimentarius Commission as 
specified in Table 5 . 
Table 5– Acceptable levels of metal contaminants in edible  almond oil 
 
Characteristics  Maximum level  Test method  
Iron (Fe) mg/kg  
 Virgin            5 .0 
Refined          1.5 
 TZS 1335  
Copper (Cu) mg/kg  
 Virgin          0.4  
Refined        0.1 
 TZS 1335  
Lead (Pb) mg/kg  
 0.1 TZS 268  
Arsenic (As) mg/ kg  
 0.1 TZS 76  
 
6.4 Total aflatoxin shall not exceed 10 µg/kg while aflatoxin B1 shall not exceed 5 µg/kg when tested 
in accordance with TZ S 799 . 
 
 
 
 
 
    
                                                                                                  TBS/ AFDC 4(293) CD3  
 7    Sampling and Test ing 
 
7.1 Sampling  
Sampling shall be carried out in  accordance with  TZS 54 . 
 
7.2 Tests  
7.2.1  Testing shall be in accordance with TZS 1322 and as provided in the respective tables and 
Anne xes of this Tanzania Standard.  
 
8 Packing, marking and labeling  
 
8.1 Packing  
Edible  almond  oil shall be packed  in containers made from suitable food grade material  
 
8.2 Marking and labeling  
Edible almond oil containers shall be marked and labelled in accordance with TZS 538. In additio n, 
each container shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following information:  
a) Name of the product  shall be ‘Almond oil ’  
b) The words virgin or refined shall be declared on the label to indicate the type of oil  
c) Name, physical and postal address of t he manufacturer and/or packer  
d) Date of manufacture and  
e) best before date  
f) Language -Kiswahili  and/or English  
g) A complete list of ingredients in descending order of proportion  
h) Net content  
i) Batch number  
j) Manufacturers registered trade mark  
k) Country of origin  
l) The p hrase “Place the products away from direct sunlight”.  
m) Disposal  of used packages  
n) Nutritional Information(optional)  
 
8.2.2 The containers may also be marked with the TBS Standards Mark of Quality.  
 
NOTE - The TBS Mark of Quality shall  be used by the packer s only under licence from TBS. Particulars of 
conditions under which the licenses are granted, may be obtained from TBS.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
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ANNEX  A 
  (normative)  
                                              fatty acids composition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                             
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Carbon configuration  Fatty  acid 
composition(%)  Test Method  
 
 
C6:0               ND       TZS 288 
C8:0               ND  
C10:0               ND  
C12:0               ND  
C14:0               ND-0.1  
C16:0               4.0-9.0  
C16:1               0.2- 0.8  
C17:0               ND-0.2  
C17:1               ND-0.2  
C18:0               ND-3.0  
C18.1               62.0-76.0  
C18:2               20.0-30.0  
C18:3               ND-0.5  
C 20:0               ND-0.5  
C 20:1               ND-0.3  
C20:2               ND  
C22:0               ND-0.2  
C22:1               ND-0.1  
C22:2               ND  
C24:0               ND-0.2  
C24:1               ND  
NOTE -  fatty acid composition is expressed as % of total fatty acids  
                              ND-none detectable,defined as ≤0.05     
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