AFDC 21 ( 390) DTZS  
ICS 67.080.20  
0 
  
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
 
Potato flour  — Specification  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFDC 21 ( 390) DTZS  
ICS 67.080.20  
1 
 0. Foreword  
Potato flour is a product produced by grinding fresh ware potato into flour  using a milling  machine . The 
demand for this product is increasing thus the need to ensure  the safety and quality of potato flour  
produced and/or marketed in Tanzania.   
 
In the preparation of this draft Tanzania standard assistance was drawn from IS 1318:2017 - Indian 
standard Specification for edible tapioca  flour.  
 
In reporting the result of a test or analysis made in accordance with this standard, if the final value 
observed or calculated, is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with TZS 4 (See clause 2).  
 
1 Scope  
 
This draft Tanzania standard  prescribes  requirements , methods of sampling and test ing for potato flour 
obtained from potato ( Solanum osum L ) of the family Solanaceae  intended for human consumption.  
 
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
TZS 4, Rounding off numerical values  
TZS 109, Food Processing uni ts- Code of h ygiene  
TZS 122 -1:2018/ISO 6579 -1: 2017 - Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for the 
detection, enumeration and serotyping of Salmonella - Part 1: Detection of Salmonella spp  
 
TZS 538:2015 (EAS 38:2014) - Labelling of pre -package d foods — General requirements  
 
TZS 731: 2018/ ISO 7251: 2006 - Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs -  Horizontal method for 
the detection and enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli - Most probable number technique  
 
TZS 961:2017 (1st Ed), Star ch – Determination of moisture content – Oven -drying method  
TZS 1278: 2012 (1st Ed), Fresh potato tuber (ware potato tuber) — Specification  
 
TZS 2044:2017/ISO 5985:2002 Animal feeding stuffs – Determination of ash insoluble in hydrochloric  
TZS 2426 -1: 202 0/ ISO 21527 -1: 2008 - Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - Horizontal 
method for the enumeration of yeasts and moulds - Part 1: Colony count technique in products with water 
activity greater than 0.95  
 
TZS 330: 2017/EAS 900:2017 Cereals and Pul ses – Sampling  
TZS 2565:2019, Bio fortified sweet potato – Specification  
 AFDC 21 ( 390) DTZS  
ICS 67.080.20  
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 TZS 2473:2019 Animal feeding stuffs - Determination of crude ash  
 
3 Terms and definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard, the following term s and definition s shall apply , 
 
3.1 potato  
storage tuber  obtain ed from a plant of the species Solanum osum L  of the family Solanaceae,  used for 
human consumption  
 
3.2 potato flour  
 
flour obtained by milling of s ound, peeled , trimmed  and dried  potatoes as defined under 3.1  
 
3.2 foreign matter  
inorganic matter such as sand, glass, metal, stones, clay , mud and organic matter such as chaff, straw, 
weed seeds , insects or insects fragments, and rodent hairs  
 
3.3 food grade material  
material that will not transfer non -food chemicals into the food and  contains no chemicals which would be 
hazardous to human health  
 
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 General requirements  
 
4.1.1 Potato  flour shall be produced from fresh potato tuber (ware potato tuber)  complying with TZS 1278  
4.1.2 Potato flour shall be  
a) white to light cream  in colour,  
b) free of off -flavours and odours;  
c) practically free from any living and dead insects and  
d) free from foreign matter s 
 
4.2 Specific  requirements  
4.2.1 Quality requirements  
 
 Potato  flour shall conform to the quality requirements shown in Tabl e 1. 
 
Table 1 —Quality requirements   
Analytical characteristic  Requirement  Method of test  
   
Moisture, % by mass, max  13 TZS 961  
Ash content, %, by mass, min.                 1.8 TZS 2473  
Crude fibre, % by mass on dry weight basis,  max 2 ISO 5498  
Acid insoluble ash, % by mass, max.  0.1 TZS 2044  
Particle size for fine flour  100% shall pass 
through 0.5mm sieve  
ISO 3588 . Particle size for medium flour  100% shall pass 
through 1mm sieve.  
   
 AFDC 21 ( 390) DTZS  
ICS 67.080.20  
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5 Contaminants  
 
5.1 Pesticide residues  
 
Potato  flour shall conform to maximum limits for pesticide residues established by th e Codex Alimentarius 
Commission.  
 
5.2 Other contaminants  
Potato  flour shall comply with the maximum levels of the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and 
Toxins in Food and Feed (CODEX STAN 193).  
 
 
 
6 Hygiene  
 
Potato  flour shall be prepared and handled in a hygienic manner in accordance  with TZS 102  and shall 
conform to microbiological limits specified in Table 2 .  
 
 
Table 2 — Microbiological limits for potato  flour  
 
Micro -organisms  Maximum limit  Method of Test  
Escherichia coli,  cfu/g,  Absent  TZS 731  
Salmonella , per 25g Absent   TZS 122  
Yeast a nd mould, cfu /g, max.  103 TZS 2426 -1 
 
 
  
7 Sampling and test  
Sampling of potato  flour shall be done according to TZS 330 and t esting of potat o flour shall be done 
according to test methods prescribed in Table s 1 and 2 of this standard.  
 
 
9 Pack ing, marking and labelling  
 
9.1 Pack ing 
Potato  flour shall  be pack ed in suitable food grade materials .  
9.2 Marking and labelling  
 
In addition to the re quirements of TZS 538 ; the following labeling requirements shall apply and shall be 
legibly and indelibly marked  
 
a) the common name of the food product  to be declared on the label shall be ‘ Potato  flour; 
 
b) net weight ; 
 AFDC 21 ( 390) DTZS  
ICS 67.080.20  
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 c)  name and physical address of the manufa cturer / distributor;  
 
d)  country of origin;  
 
e) batch number ; 
 
f) date of manufacture and best before date ; 
 
g) the statement `Human Fo od' shall appear on the package ; 
 
h) storage conditions ‘store in a cool dry place away from contaminants’ ; 
 
i) instructi ons on disposal of used package ; and  
 
j) The language on the label shall be Kiswahili  and/or English”. Another language may be used 
depending on the designated market.  
 
9.3 The package may  also be marked with TBS Quality Mark.  
 
NOTE: The TBS Standards Mark of Quality may be used by the manufacturers only under license  from 
TBS. Particulars of conditions under which the license  are g ranted may be obtained from TBS