TBS/AFDC 19(5972) P3  
                               
 
DRAFT  TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
Pumpkin seed s – Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS   
                                                                                                         TBS/AFDC 19(5972) P3  
  
Pumpkin seed s – Specification  
 
0 Foreword  
 
Pumpkin seed s refers to the edible seed s of a pumpkin (Cucurbit a pepo L .). Pumpkin  seeds are rich in 
lipids, protein and crude fiber.  In addition, the seed is a good so urce of minerals like phosphorous,  
sodium,  calcium,  copper,  zinc, magnesium,  potassium and iron that are important for our health . 
This Tanzania Standa rd is intended to guide farmers/traders in achieving quality of pumpkin seed s 
required for internal and external market.  
In reporting the results of a test or analysis made in accordance with this Tanzania Standard, if the 
final value observed or calculat ed is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with TZS 4.  
1 Scope  
 
This Tanzania Standard specifies requirements and methods of sampling and test for seeds obtained 
from pumpkin  (Cucurbita  pepo L.) intended for human consumption  or for other us e in the food 
industry .  
 
 
2 Normative  references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this standard. For dated 
references , only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the reference d 
document (including any amendments) applies :  
              
Codex Stan 193 , General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed  
TZS 4, Rounding off numerical values  
TZS 109, Food  processing units – Code of hygiene – General  
TZS 122,  Microbiolog y of food and feeding Stuffs  – Horizont al method for the detection of S almonella 
spp 
TZS 131 , Microbiology – General guidance for enumeration of yeast and moulds – Colony count 
technique at 25 0C  
 
TZS 538, Packaging and labeling of foods  
TZS 731,  Microbiol ogy of food and feeding Stuffs -Horizon tal method for the detection and 
enumeration of presumptive Escherichia Coli –  Most Probable Number Technique  
TZS 742, O leaginous seeds – Sampling   
TZS 799 ,  Foodstuffs – Determination of aflatoxin B1, and the total c ontent of aflatoxins  B1, B2, G1 
and G2 in cereals, nuts and derived products – High\-performance liquid chromatographic method  
TZS 1314  – 1, Oilseeds  – Determination of content of impurities  
TZS 1314  – 2, Oilseeds  – Determination of moisture and volatile m atter content  
TZS 1314  – 3, Oilseeds  – Determination of oil content (Reference method)  
TZS 1314  – 4, Oilseeds  – Determ ination of acidity of oils   
                                                                                                         TBS/AFDC 19(5972) P3  
 3 Terms and d efinitions   
 
For the purposes of this Tanzania Standard, the following terms and definitions  shall apply:  
  
3.1 pumpkin  (Cucurbita pepo L .) 
hard and round ish fruit vegetable of the squash family that usually comes in a bright orange color or 
also green and yellow  depen ding on how ripe and grown it is.   
 
3.2 pumpkin seed  
edible  seed  of a pumpkin  (Cucurbita pepo L .) 
 
3.2 foreign matters  
materials  other than pumpkin seed s. 
 
3.3 moisture and volatile matters  
loss of mass of a test piece, when dried under specified conditions . 
 
3.4 oil content  
amount of oil in the seed  expressed as percentage mass by mass  
 
3.5 acid value  
number of milligrams of potas sium hydroxide required to neutralize the free fatty acids present in 1 g 
of fat . 
 
 
4. Requirements  
 
4.1 General requirements  
 
Pumpkin seeds shall be:  
a) dry and uniform in size, flat and oval in shape;  
b) free from dead or living insects, insect fragments and m ites; 
c) free from foreign matter such as stones, dirt or any contamination;  
d) free from foreign odours and undesirable flavour and/or taste; and  
e) free from decayed and mould  -damaged seeds . 
f) free from genetic modified materials   
 
4.2 Specific requirements  
 
Pumpk in seeds shall comply with specific requirements given in Table 1 when tested in accordance 
with the methods specified therein;  
 
Table 1- Specific requirements for p umpkin seeds  
 
S/N 
 Characteristic  Requirement  Test method s 
TZS 1314  
Part 
 
i) Moisture cont ent,% (m/m) max.  8.0 
   2 
ii) Oil content on moisture free 
basis,%,(m/m),min.  12   3 
iii) Acid value of extracted oil%(m/m),  max. 0.52 
   4 
iv) Foreign matter %(m/m), max.  0.05 
   1  
                                                                                                         TBS/AFDC 19(5972) P3  
  
 
5 Contaminants  
 
5.1 Metal contaminats  
Pumpkin seed s shall comply wit h those maximum metal contaminants st ipulated in CODEX STAN 
193. 
 
5.2 Pesticide residues  
Pumpkin seed s shall comply with those maximum residue limits established by th e Codex 
Alimentarius Commission.  
 
5.3 Mycotoxins  
 
Pumpkin seeds shall comply with the le vel of mycotoxins specified in Table 2 when tested in 
accordance with the methods specified therein;  
 
                         Table 2 - Mycotoxins limits for pumpkin seeds  
S/N Mycotoxin  Maximum limit  Method of test  
i) Total aflatoxin  10 µg/kg  TZS 799  
ii) aflatoxin B1  5 µg/kg  TZS 799  
 
6 Hygiene  
6.1 Pumpkin seed s shall be produced, processed, handled and stored in accordance with TZS 109.  
 
6.2 Pumpkin  seeds shall comply with microbiological limits specified in Table 3 when tested in 
accordance wit h the me thods specified therein;  
 
Table 3 - Microbiological limits for pumpkin seeds  
 
S/No  Organism  Maximum limit  Method of test  
 
i) Escherichia coli , MPN /g  Shall be absent  TZS 731  
ii) Salmonella per 25  g 
 Shall be absent  TZS 122  
iii) Yeast and Moulds  cfu/g,ma x 102 TZS 131  
 
7 Sampling and methods of test s 
7.1 Sampling  
 
Sampling of pumpkin seed s shall be done in accordance with TZS 742.  
 
7.2 Methods of test  
 
Pumpkin seed s shall be tested in accordance with the methods specified in this standard. . 
 
 
  
                                                                                                         TBS/AFDC 19(5972) P3  
 8 Packagi ng, Marking a nd Labeling  
8.1 Packaging   
 
Pumpkin seeds  shall be packed in suitable and hygienic food grade packaging materials which ensure 
that the saf ety and quality requirements specified in this standard are maintained throughout the shelf 
life of the product.  
 
8.2 Marking and labeling  
 
8.2.1  The product shall be marked and labeled in accordance with TZS 538 .  
 
8.2.2 In addition each c ontainer/packet of product shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the 
following information :  
 
a) Name of the product ;  
b) Trade name or brand, if any;  
c) Name, address of the processor and/or packer;  
d) Batch or code number;  
e) Date of packing;  
f) Expiry date;  
g) Net weight ; 
h) Country of origin;  
i) Year of harvest (Crop year)  
j) Storage condition s 
 
8.2.3  The containers may also be marked with th e TBS Standards Mark of Quality.  
NOTE – The TBS Standards Mark of Quality may be used by the manufacturers only under licence from TBS. 
Particulars of conditions under which the licences are granted, may be obtained from TBS.  
9 Storage and T ransportation   
9.1 Storage  
9.1.1  Pumpkin seed s shall be stored in a well ventilated environment and stacked on pallets to 
avoid moisture ingress. They shall be stored in leak proof warehouses.  
9.1.2  Warehouses shall be free from pest s.   
9.2 Transportation  
Pumpkin s eeds shall be transported in well secured wagons/containers/trucks to avoid loss and 
spoilage