KENYA STANDARD          KS 1300: 2016 
           ICS 67.080.01 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 Fresh ridged gourd (turia) — Specification 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
    
  ©KEBS 2016             Third  edition 2006 
 
 
 
 
 KS 1300: 2016  
                     © KEBS 2006 — All rights reserved ii 
 
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION 
 
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee 
 Agriculture Food and Fisheries Authority — Horticultural Crops Directorate 
Kenya Flower Council (KFC) 
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) 
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fi sheries — State Department of Agriculture 
Rapid Result Agricultural program Consumer Information Network 
Institute of Packaging 
Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya 
Kenya institute of food science and technology. 
University of Nairobi-Department of Plant science and crop protection AAA growers 
Hortimpact program-SNV 
Society of crop Agribusiness advisors  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat 
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS 
 
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed. Suggestions for 
improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, are 
welcome.  
 
  
 
  
 
  
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2006 
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of section 6 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of the Laws of Kenya, copyright subsis ts in all 
Kenya Standards and except as provided under section 7 of this act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of Standards may  be 
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing from the M anaging 
Director. 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
© KEBS 2006 — All rights reserved           iii  
 
 
KENYA STANDARD                         KS 1300: 2016 
     ICS 67.080.01 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
Fresh ridged gourds (turia) — Specification 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS) 
 
Head Office:  P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi-00200, Tel.: (+254 020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020) 604031 
E-Mail: info@kebs.org,  Web:http://www.kebs.org   
 
Coast Region    Lake Region         North Rift Region  
P.O. Box 99376, Mombasa-80100  P.O. Box 2949, Kisumu-40100       P.O. Box 2138, Nakuru-20100 
Tel.: (+254 041) 229563, 230939/40               Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396       Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 210555 
Fax: (+254 041) 229448   Fax: (+254 057) 21814  KS 1300: 2016  
                     © KEBS 2006 — All rights reserved iv  
Foreword 
 
This Kenya standard has been prepared by the Horticultural fresh produce technical committee and is in accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of standards.  
This standard has been developed in recognition of the contribution of the horticultural 
industry towards the Kenyan Economy.It is expec ted that the standard will promote trade fair 
practices, safeguard the health and safety of the consumer and protect the environment. 
 In the development of this standard reference has been made to the following document. 
 
. FAO/MOA handbook: Assistance in production of Asian vegetables. 
 
Acknowledgement is made for the assistance received from these sources.© KEBS 2006 — All rights reserved          1  
                                                   KS 1300: 2016 
 
 
Fresh ridged gourds (turia) — Specification  
 
 
1 Scope 
 
This Kenya Standard specifies quality requirements for fresh edible fruits of fresh ridged 
gourds ( Luffa acutangula  Roxb). 
 
 
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.  
 CAC/RCP 53-2003, Code of hygienic practice for fresh fruits and vegetables  
 
EAS 38, Labelling of pre-packaged foods — Specification  
 
ISO 874, Fresh fruits and vegetables – Sampling   
ISO 6633, Fruits, vegetables and derived products — Determination of lead content — 
Flameless atomic   
ISO 7558, Guide to the prepackaging of fresh fruits and vegetables 
 
3. Application 
The standard is to define the quality requirements for fresh green beans after preparation 
and packaging. 
However, if applied at stages after point of sale or following export, produce may show in 
relation to the requirements of the standard: 
i) a slight lack of freshness and turgidity 
ii)a slight deterioration due to their development and their tendency to perish.  
The holder/seller of produce may not display such produce or offer them for sale, or 
deliver or market them in any manner other than in conformity with this standard. The 
holder/seller shall be responsible for observing such conformity 
 
 
4. Terms and   definitions 
 In addition to the terms and definitions contained in KS 1559, the following shall apply   
4.1  clean   
free from dirt, dust, insect stains or other foreign substances 
 4.2  
damaged    KENYA STANDARD KS 1300: 2016  
                     © KEBS 2006 — All rights reserved 2any injury or defect caused by sunscald, yellowing, sub-burn, bruises, scars and insects, 
 which affect the appearance and keeping quality of ridged gourds 
 4.3  deformed    
the ridged gourd that is so misshapen that the appearance does not fit the known 
characteristic of the variety 
 4.4  firm   
the ridged gourd which is crisp and not shrivelled, limp or pliable 
 
4.5  
fresh  ridged gourds that have been recently harvested and whose quality has not deteriorated due to  loss of moisture, discolouration,  or injury through bruising   
4.6  
intact    
ridged gourds with no parts removed and have not suffered any damage making them 
 incomplete 
 
4.7  
length    
the greatest dimension of ridged gourd fruit measured from the stem end to  the blossom end,  including the stalk  
4.8  
moderately coloured    
ridged gourds having at least half of the surface bearing characteristic colour of the variety 
 4.9  overgrown    
the ridged gourd that has developed beyond the best stage of utilization.  The skin is hard 
and the fruits are pithy or fibrous.  The seeds are tough and the pulp in the seed cavity is 
usually watery or jelly-like 
 
4.10  
uniformly coloured   
ridged gourds having at least three quarters (¾) of the surface bearing the characteristic 
colour of the variety 
 
 
 
4.11  superior quality   
means fresh ridged gourds that are:  
i) well developed; 
ii) well shaped and pr actically straight; 
iii) free from defects including all deformations particularly those caused by seed 
formation KS 1300:2006  
© KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  3 
4.12  good quality    
means fresh gourds that are: 
i) reasonably developed; 
ii) reasonably well shaped and practically straight 
 5.0 Quality requirements  
 
5.1Minimum quality requirements  In all classes, subject to the special provisio ns of each class and tolerances allowed, the 
following shall be the minimum requirements of fresh ridged gourd. 
 
i)  firm and intact 
ii)  fresh and clean 
iii)   tender, 
iv) not be overgrown, v)  fairly well-formed, 
vi)  of characteristic colour of the variety, 
vii) free from pests, damage and diseases, 
viii) free from foreign smell and/or taste, 
ix)        between 200 mm and 300 mm in length, 
x)  50 to 70 mm in width, 
xi) have a stalk 50 mm long.  
5.2 Classification 
 
All fresh-ridged gourds shall be required to meet the minimum  requirements  and shall be 
classified as follows: 
 5.2.1 Extra class   
 
This class consists of ridged gourds which are uniformly coloured and are of superior quality 
in shape, appearance and development.  They must be characteristic of the variety. 
 
The difference in weight between the smallest and the largest gourd within the same package shall not exceed 10 per cent of the average weight of the lot. 
 5.2.2 Class I   
 Ridged gourds in this class shall be moderately coloured and of good quality.  
 The difference in length between the shortest and the longest gourd within the same 
package shall not exceed 20 % of the average length of the lot. KS 1300: 2016  
                     © KEBS 2006 — All rights reserved 4 
 The following defects shall be allowed provided that they do not affect the general 
appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package: 
 
i) a slight deformation  
 ii) slight defects in colouring, especially the light coloured part of the fruit where it 
touched the ground during growth; 
 
iii) slight skin blemishes or injuries due to  rubbing, handling or low  temperature, 
provided that such blemishes have healed and do not affect the keeping quality and presentation. 
 5.2.3 Class II    
 This class includes fresh ridged gourds which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but meet the minimum requirements. 
 
6 Tolerances  The following tolerances in respect to quality shall be allowed: 
 6.1 Extra class    
 
 A maximum of 5 % by mass of ridged gourds not satisfying the requirements of this class 
but meet requirements of Class I shall be allowed.  
6.2 Class I    
 
A maximum of 5 % by mass of ridged gourds not satisfying the requirements of this class but 
satisfy those of Class II. 
 
6.3 Class II  
 
A maximum of 5 % by mass of ridged gourds not satisfying the requirements of this class but 
satisfy the minimum requirements shall be allowed.  7.0  Provisions concerning presentation 
 
7.1 Uniformity 
The contents of each package (or lot for produce presented in bulk in the transport vehicle), must be uniform and contain only ridged gourds of the same origin, variety or 
commercial type, quality, and size (if sized). 
Ridged gourds in Class I must be uniform in shape and colour. However, a mixture of ridged gourds of distinctly different commercial types and/or 
colours may be packed together in a package, provided they are uniform in quality and, for 
each commercial type and/or colour concerned, in origin. 
Miniature ridged gourds must be reasonably uniform in size. They may be mixed with 
other miniature products of different species and origin. The visible part of the contents of the package (or lot for produce presented in bulk in the 
transport vehicle) must be representative of the entire contents. 
 KS 1300:2006  
© KEBS 2016 — All rights reserved  5Packages (or lots for produce presented in bulk in the transport vehicle) must be free of all 
foreign matter . 
 
 
8 Contaminants  
 
8.1 Pesticide residues 
the produce covered by this standard shall comply with the maximum residue limits for 
pesticides established by the codex alim entarius commission for this commodity 
  
 
8.2 Other contaminants 
The produce covered by this standard shall comply with the maximum levels of the general standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed(CODEX STAN 193-1995). 
 
 
9 HYGIENE 
 9.1  It is recommended  that the produce covered by the provisions of this Standard be 
prepared and handled in accordance  with  the appropriate  sections  of the General  
Principles  of Food  Hygiene  (KS CAC/RCP  1-1969), Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (KS CAC/RCP 53-2003), and other relevant texts such as codes of 
hygienic practice and codes of practice. 
 
9.2  The produce should comply with any microbiological criteria established in 
accordance with the Principles and Guidelines for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria related to Foods (KS CAC/GL 21-1997). 
 
 
 
.  
10. Packaging 
The package used shall ensure product safety and integrity.  The packaging material that is 
in contact with the produce shall be of food grade, clean and of a quality such as to avoid 
causing any external or internal damage to the produce. The use of materials, particularly of paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed, provided the printing or labelling 
has been done with non-toxic ink or glue. Packages shall be free from any foreign matter 
and the material shall be recyclable 
11. labeling 
The following information shall be legibly and indelibly marked on the packets containing the produce 
i)Name of the produce i.e “ridged gourd” and/or commercial type if the contents are not 
visible from the outside. ii) Class 
iii) Size code: 
v) for other beans (if sized) expressed as minimum and maximum width of the
 
pods.  
vi) name and physical address of the importer/packer/distributor;  vii) country of origin;  
viii) net weight in kilograms;  
ix) identification code and/or batch number KS 1300: 2016  
                     © KEBS 2006 — All rights reserved 6x) name of the variety or commercial type;  
xi) storage instructions.  
xii)GMO status 
 
13.  Sampling   
 
Ridged gourds shall be sampled in accordance with the standard KS ISO 874-Fruits and 
vegetables-Sampling.