AFDC 19(1707) DTZS  
                               
 
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
               Raw Brazil nut  kernels  – Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS   
                                                                                                             AFDC 19(1707) DTZS  
 Raw Brazil nut kernels  – Specification   
 
0 Foreword  
 
Brazil nut  kernels are obtaine d from brazil nut  tree (Bertholletia excelsa L.). Raw Brazil nuts  kernels 
can be consumed directly as a snack or in mixed -ingredient snacks without further processing, salting, 
sugaring, flavoring or roasting. They also combine perfectly with confectionary  and baked foods . 
 
This Tanzania standard lays down specifications aiming at ensuring the safety and quality of raw 
Brazil nut  kernels  produced  or traded in the country for direct human consumption.  
 
In preparation of this Tanzania standard considerab le help was derived from  UNECE Standard -DDP 
27 Brazil  nut ke rnels.  
In reporting the results of a test or analysis made 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, sam pling and test methods for raw Brazil  nut 
kernels  derived from  Brazil nut  tree (Bertholletia excelsa L.) intended for direct human consumption.  
 
2 Normative  reference s  
 
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 applies. For 
undated references, the latest edition of the refer enced document (including any amendments) 
applies ;  
 
Codex Stan 192  
 
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,  Microbiology of food and feeding Stuffs  – Horizont al method for the detection of S almonella 
spp 
 
TZS 538, Packaging and labeling of foods  
 
TZS 730 -2 TZS 730 - 2 /ISO 16649 -2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs – Horizontal 
method for the enumeration of -b-glucuro nidase -positive Escherichia coli – Part 2 – Colony -count 
technique at 44 0C using 5 -bromo -4-chloro -3-indolyl -b-D-glucuronide  
TZS 742, O leaginous seeds – Sampling   
TZS 799 ,  Foodstuffs – Determination of aflatoxin B1, and the total content 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 matter content  
TZS 1314  – 4, Oilseeds  – Determ ination of acidity of oils  
  
                                                                                                             AFDC 19(1707) DTZS  
 TZS 2426  - 2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - Horizontal method for the enumeration 
of yeasts and moulds - Part 2: Colony count technique in products with water activity less than or 
equal to 0.95  
 
3 Terms and d efinitions   
 
For the purposes of this Tanzania Standard, t he following terms and definitions  shall apply:  
  
3.1 raw Brazil  nut kernels  
 
product obtained by removing the shell of the Brazil  nut  
 
3.2 foreign matter  
 
any visible and/or apparent matter or materi al not usually associated with the raw Brazil  nut kernels  
 
3.3 damaged kernels  
 
raw Brazil  nut kernels which are  damaged mechanically, or by mould or weevils, or those showing 
internal discoloration of kernels significantly affecting the quality.  
 
3.4 immature kernels  
Brazil  nut k ernels which are not fully developed  
 
4. Requirements  
 
4.1 General requirements  
 
(i) Raw Brazil  nut kernels  shall be whole, mature and uniform in size ; 
 
(ii) Raw Brazil  nut kernels shall  be free from rancid odour and  taste ; 
 
(iii) Raw Brazil  nut kernels  shall be free from insects, rodent contamination  and insect fragments .  
 
4.2 Specific requirements  
Raw Brazil  nut kernels  shall comply with specific requirements given in Table 1 when tested in 
accordance with the methods specified therein;  
                        
                     Table 1- Specific requirements for raw Brazil  nut kernels  
 
S/N 
 Characteristic  Requirement  Test methods  
i) Moisture content,  %, m/m, max.  
 5 
 TZS 1314 – 2  
ii) Acid value, %, m/m, max.  
 3 TZS 1314 – 4  
 
 
4.3 Gr ading requirements  
 
4.3.1  Where classification is required,  raw Brazil  nut kernels may be graded based on size  and defects 
allowed.  
 
4.3.2  When classified based on size, the raw Brazil  nut kernels shall comply with the requirements 
given in Ta ble 2, when tested in accordance with the test method specified therein . 
 
  
                                                                                                             AFDC 19(1707) DTZS  
  
                               Table 2 -Sizing requirements for raw Brazil  nut kernels  
 
S/N 
 Size code /count  Kernels per kg  Kernels per pound  
i) Large or giants  
 176-242 
 80-110  
ii) Mediums  
 242-286 110-130  
iii) Smalls  308-352 140-160 
 
iv) Midgets  352-396 
 160-180 
v Tiny 396-484 180-220 
 
4.3.3  When classified based on defects, the raw Brazil  nut kernels shall comply with t he requirements 
given in Table 3 , whe n tested in accordance with th e test method specified therein;  
 
                  Table 3  - Grading requirements for raw Brazil  nut kernels  
 
 
S/N 
  
Characteristic                             Requirement  
 Test methods  
Extra class  Class I  
 Class II  
i) Immature kernels ,%, m/m, 
max.    1 
   1  2    
 
TZS 1314 – 1 
   ii) Damaged kernels , %, 
m/m, max.  
  1  2 3 
iv) Foreign matters,  % by 
mass, max.  0.5 
 1 1 
 
NOTE - The maximum total tolerance limi ts for Grade 1 is 8%, 12 % for Grade 2 and 15 % for Grade  3 by number 
or weight for raw Brazil  nut kernels corresponding to the size immediately above and/or below that indicated on 
the package.  
5 Food Additives  
The use of food additives in raw Brazil  nut shall comply with the latest Codex Stan 192. 
 
6  Hygiene  
6.1  Raw Brazil  nut kernels shall be processed, handled and stored in accordance with TZS 109.  
 
6.2   Raw Brazil  nut kernels shall comply with microbiological limits gi ven in Table 4  when tested in 
accordance with the methods spe cified therein;  
 
         Table 4  – Microbiological   limits for Raw B razil nut  kernels  
 
S/N Microorganism  Limit  Test method  
ii Salmonella spp per 25 g  absent  
TZS 122 -1 
iii Escherichia coli  cfu/g  absent  TZS 730 -2 
iv Yeast and moulds, cfu/g, 
max.  103  TZS 2426 -2  
                                                                                                             AFDC 19(1707) DTZS  
  
7. Contaminants  
 
7.1 Heavy Metal C ontaminats  
 
Raw Brazil nut  kernels  shall comply with maximum  limits for  heavy metal contaminants st ipulated in 
Codex Stan 193 . 
 
7.2 Pesticide residues  
 
Raw Brazil  nut kernels  shall comply with max imum re sidue limits established by Codex Alimentarius 
Commission online database for pesticide residues for this commodity  
 
7.3 Aflatoxin   
 
Aflatoxin limits for Raw Brazil  nut kernels shall not exceed maximum limits as given in Table 5  when 
tested in accord ance with  test method specified therein:  
 
                         Table 5 - Aflatoxin  limits for  Raw  Brazil  nut kernels  
 
S/N Aflatoxin  Maximum limit , µg/kg  Method of 
test 
i) Total aflatoxin  10  TZS 799  
 ii) aflatoxin B1  5  
 
8 Sampling and methods of test  
8.1 Sampling  
 
Sampling of Brazil  nut kernels shall be done in accordance with TZS 742.  
 
8.2 Methods of test  
 
Brazil nut  kernels shall be tested in accor dance with the methods specified in this Tanzania standard.  
 
9 Pack aging , Markin g and Labeling  
 
9.1 Pack aging 
 
Raw Brazil  nut kernels  shall be packaged in containers made from food grade packaging material and 
sealed in a manner that will safeguard the hygienic, safety, nutritional and organoleptic properties of 
the product.  
 
9.2 Marking and labeling  
 
9.2.1 In addition to the labelling requirements given in TZS 538, packages/containers of Raw Brazil  
nut kernels shall be labelled legibly and indelibly with the following information :  
 
a) Name of the product as ‘ Raw Brazil nut  kernels ’;  
b) Trade name or brand, if any;  
c) Name, physical address of the producer  and/or packer;  
d) Batch or lot number;  
e) Date of  packing ; 
f) Expiry date;   
                                                                                                             AFDC 19(1707) DTZS  
 g) Net weight in Metric unit;  
h) Country of origin;  
i) Storage conditions;  
j) List of ingredients in descending order, in cluding the specific name of additives;  
9.2.2 The containers shall also be marked with the TBS Standards Mark of Quality.  
NOTE – The TBS Standards Mark of Quality shall be used by the manufacturers only under licence from TBS. 
Particulars of conditions u nder which the licences are granted, may be obtained from TBS .