Gulf Standard                                                                                                             GSO…/2013  
 
هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية  
STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION FOR G.C.C (GSO ) 
 
 
 Final  draft  
GSO/ FDS…./2013  
  
 
 Fruits and vegetables  and their products -  
 Canned spinach  
  
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
 Gulf technical committee for sector standards of  
Food and agriculture products  
This document is a draft Gulf standard circulated for comments, it is therefore, 
subject to alteration and modification, and may not be referred as a Gulf standard, 
until appr oved by the Board of Directors                                                                                                                                       
 
ICS: 67:080. 20 Gulf Standard                                                                                                             GSO…/2013  
 
Foreword  
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization  which consists of 
the National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main functions is 
to issue Gulf Standards/ Technical regulations through specialized technical 
committees (TCs).  
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No.(5) “Gul f technical 
committee for sector Standards of Foods and Agricultural products” has prepared 
the Gulf Standard  for " Fruits and vegetables and their products -  Canned spinach "    . 
The draft Standard has been prepared by State of Qatar.  
This Standard has been approved as a Gulf Technical Regulation by GSO Board of 
Directors in its meeting No. (    ), held on     /    /     H,      /      /     G.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Gulf Standard                                                                                                             GSO…/2013  
 
Fruits and vegetables and their products -  
Canned spinach  
1-Scope:  
This Gulf Standard is concerned with the requirements of canned spinach.  
 
2-Complementary references :  
2.1 GSO 9" Label ling of prepackaged food stuffs".  
2.2 GSO 20" Methods for the determination of contaminating metallic 
elements in food stuffs. 
2.3 GSO 21"  Hygienic regulations for food plants and their personnel" .  
2.4 GSO 123" General requirements for fresh fruits and vegetables"  .  
2.5 GSO 150" Expiration periods of food products" . 
2.6 GSO 168" Conditions of storage facilities for dry and packed food stuf fs".  
2.7 GSO 177" Methods of physical and chemical tests of canned vegetables"  . 
2.8 GSO 178 Microbiological methods for testing of canned vegetables'" . 
2.9 GSO 244" Methods of test for vegetables and fruits and their products - 
Part 1: Organoleptic exami nation , determination of net weight and drained 
weight, determination of apparent viscosity, determination of head -space, 
determination of extraneous matter and defective fruits". 
2.10 GSO 382, 383" Maximum limits for pesticide residues in agricultural and  
food products - Parts 1, 2" .  
 2.11 GSO 839" Food packages - Part 1: General requirements".  
2.12 GSO 841" Maximum limits of fungi toxins permitted in food and animal 
feeds - Aflatoxin".  
2.13 GSO 988" Limits of radioactivity levels permitted in food stuffs - Part 1".  
2.14 GSO 998" Methods for the detection of permissible radionuclide in food - 
Part 1: Gamma spectrometry analysis: A, Cs 134, Cs 137". 
2.15 GSO 1016"Microbiological criteria for food stuffs - Part 1".  
2.16 GSO 1287" Methods of sampling of prepackaged  fruit and vegetable 
products" . 
2.17  GSO 1791" Three piece steel round cans used for canning food stuffs".   
2.18 GSO/CAC 193: General Standard for contaminants and toxins in food 
and feed". 
2.19 Gulf Standards which Organization shall be approved concerne d with:   
2.19.1" General Standard for food additives" . 
1 
 Gulf Standard                                                                                                             GSO…/2013  
 
2.19.2  Methods for the determination of fungi toxins in food and animal 
feeds" . 
2.19.3  Methods for the determination of pesticide residues" .  
 
3- Definitions: 
Canned spinach: 
A food product prepared from spinach leaves and stalks of Varity Spinacia 
oleracar L . fresh, tender  which reached appropriate maturity stage  and free 
from fungi, insects and diseases damage, after washing, cutting, boiling and 
packed in water or any suitab le solution, and thermal treated with a suitable 
way before or after closing to prevent spoilage of the product and to keep its 
main component and its quality factors.  
  
4- Requirements: 
The following  requirements  shall be met in the product:  
4.1 The spina ch used in the production shall be complying with what 
mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.4). 
4.2 The production shall be carried out according to the requirements mentioned in 
Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.3).  
4.3 Using leaves and stalks of spinach shall be tender and with bright green color.  
4.4 Using leaves and stalks of spinach shall be homogenized in color and free from 
other plants leaves.  
4.5 The product shall have distinguishing odor and flavor for the varity, and free from 
foreign tas te and odor.  
4.6 Packaging liquid shall have its physical characteristics.  
4.7 It is allow to add chick -peas and some spices in the case of packaging the spinach 
in sauce solution, to improve thr texture and taste.  
4.8The allowable defects from yellow leaves and over ripe stalks shall not exceed 2%.  
4.9 Edible salt content shall not exceed 2% from the net weight.  
4.10 The additives shall be according to Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.19.1). 
4.11 Contaminating metallic elements content shall not exceed to what mentioned in 
Gulf Standard stated in Item (2. 18). 
 
2 Gulf Standard                                                                                                             GSO…/2013  
 
4.12 Pesticide residues in the product shall not exceed the allowable limits according 
to Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.10).  
4.13  Microbiological criteria of the product shall comply with Gulf Standard stated in 
Item (2.1 5). 
4.14 The radioactivity contaminant limits for the product  shall comply with Gulf 
Standard stated in Item (2.13).  
4.15 Maximum limits of fungi toxins  shall not exceed to what mentioned in Gulf 
Standard stated in Item (2.12).  
5- Sampling: 
Samples shall be taken according to  Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.16).  
 
6- Methods of examination and test: 
6.1 Determination of contaminating metallic elements  shall be carried out 
according to Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.2). 
 6.2 Physical  and chemical examination shall be carried out according 
to Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.7). 
6.3 Determination of net weight, drained weight and defects shall be carried 
out according to Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.9). 
6.4 Determination of a flatoxins shall be carried out according to Gulf 
Standard stated in Item (2. 19.2 ).  
6.5 Determination of pesticides residues shall be carried out according to Gulf 
Standard stated in Item (2. 19.3 ).  
6.6 Detection of radioactivity limits shall be carried out  according to Gulf 
Standard stated in Item (2.14). 
6.7 The product shall be microbiological tested according to Gulf Standard 
stated in Item (2.8). 
 
 
7- Packaging, transportation and storage: 
 
7.1 Packaging:  
7.1.1 Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standards stated in Items 
(2.11, 2.1 7), the product shall be packaged in suitable containers to keep the 
it and protect it from any contamination lead to change its properties or its 
fitting for human consumption. 
7.1.2 The cans shall be coated from i nside with varnish material suitable with 
medium or solution packaging. 
7.1.3 The vacuum inside the cans shall not be less than 100 mm  mercury.  
3 Gulf Standard                                                                                                             GSO…/2013  
 
 
7.1.4 Volume content shall not be less than 90% from water capacity of the 
container. 
7.1.5 The drained weig ht shall not be less than 60% of the product net 
weight. 
 
7.2 Transportation: 
Product transportation shall be carried out by means of sound and clean 
means, do not previously used in transportation of any poisoning or harmful  
materials, and the transporta tion shall be carried out with a way do not lead 
to spoilage of the product. 
 
7.3 Storage:  
Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standards stated in Items (2. 6), 
the stores shall be good ventilation and far from heat and contamination 
sources. 
 
 
8- Labeling :  
Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standards stated in Items (2.1, 
2.5), the following shall be declared on the label , in Arabic language and may 
write in another language beside the Arabic language:  
8.1 The name of the product ( canned spinach ) .  
8.2 Conditions of keeping, storage and handling.  
8.3 Net weight and drained weight. 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Gulf Standard                                                                                                             GSO…/2013  
 
4