STANDARD FOR CANNED CHESTNUTS AND CANNED CHESTNUT PUREE

CODEX STAN 145-1985

Adopted in 1985. Amendment: 2015.

 CODEX STAN 145-1985 2

1. DESCRIPTION
1.1 Product Definition
1.1.1 Canned chestnuts is the product (a) prepared from fresh, sound, mature chestnuts of varieties
conforming to the characteristics of the species Castanea crenata Sieb et Zucc. (Japanese chestnut) or
Castanea sativa Miller (European chestnut) which shall be shelled and may be pellicled or unpellicled;1
(b) packed with or without water which may or may not contain sugars, seasonings and other ingredients
appropriate to the product; and (c) processed by heat in an appropriate manner, before or after being
hermetically sealed in a container, so as to prevent spoilage.
1.1.2 Canned chestnut puree is the product (a) pureed by sieving, or other mechanical means in order to
obtain a fruit pulp from chestnuts, as defined in sub-section 1.1.1(a); (b) packed with or without sugars
and other ingredients appropriate to the product; and (c) heat processed by a procedure as defined in
sub-section 1.1.1(c).
1.2 Styles
1.2.1 Canned Chestnuts
Canned chestnuts may be packed in the following styles:
(a) Whole - whole chestnuts which are pellicled or unpellicled and/or trimmed into a practical
tetrahedron.
(b) Brokens2 - small pieces which may not be uniform in size and/or shape.
1.2.2 Canned Chestnut Puree
(a) Sweetened - with added sugars listed in 2.1 (b); not less than 12 percent total soluble solids
(12 Brix).
(b) Unsweetened - without added sugars; not less than 10 percent total soluble solids (10 Brix).
1.2.3 Other Styles
Any other presentation of the product shall be permitted provided that it:
(a) is sufficiently distinctive from other forms of presentation laid down in this standard;
(b) meets all other requirements of this standard; and
(c) is adequately described on the label to avoid confusing or misleading the consumer.

2. ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS

2.1 Packing Media
Where a packing medium is used, it may consist of:
(a) Water - in which water is the sole packing medium;
(b) Water which may have one or more of the following nutritive sweeteners as defined by the
Codex Alimentarius Commission added: sucrose, invert sugar syrup, dextrose, dried glucose
syrup, glucose syrup, fructose, fructose syrup, honey.
2.2 Classification of packing media when nutritive sweeteners are added
2.2.1 When nutritive sweeteners are added to water, the liquid media shall be classified on the basis of the
cut-out strength as follows:
Slightly sweetened water } - Not less than 10 Brix
Water slightly sweetened } - but less than 14 Brix
Extra light syrup }
Light syrup - Not less than 14 Brix
- but less than 18 Brix
Heavy syrup - Not less than 18 Brix
but less than 22 Brix
Extra Heavy syrup - Not less than 22 Brix

1
In the case of unpellicled chestnuts, they should be previously processed by alcohol so as to remove the
astringency of the pellicles.
2
The term "Brokens" is translated into French as "Brisure".
 CODEX STAN 145-1985 3

2.2.2 The cut-out strength for any packing medium shall be determined on average, but no container may
have a Brix value lower than that of the next category below.
2.3 Other Ingredients
Canned chestnut puree may contain "sugars", as listed in sub-section 2.1 (b), they shall amount to not
more than 2 percent of total net contents. Canned Chestnuts and Chestnut Puree may contain "salt"
(sodium chloride) in an amount not exceeding 1 percent of total net contents.
2.4 Quality Criteria
2.4.1 Colour
When colour is not added, canned chestnuts or canned chestnut puree shall have a normal colour
characteristic of the varieties used. Browning and discolouration shall be regarded as defects.
2.4.2 Flavour
Canned chestnuts or canned chestnut puree shall have a normal flavour and odour free from flavours
and odours foreign to the products.
2.4.3 Texture
2.4.3.1 Canned chestnuts shall have a reasonably uniform thick texture and shall not be excessively firm nor
unreasonably soft.
2.4.3.2 Canned chestnut puree shall have a uniform consistency and particle size.
2.4.4 Uniformity of size
Whole - in 95 percent, by count, of units that are most uniform in size, the weight of the largest unit shall
be no more than twice the weight of the smallest unit.
2.4.5 Defects and Allowances
The product shall be substantially free from defects such as harmless plant material, shell, pellicle (in
pellicled styles), blemished units, split and broken units (in whole styles) and discoloured units. Slight
syneresis in canned chestnut puree should not be regarded as a defect. Certain common defects shall
not be present in amounts greater than the following limitations:
Not more than 14 percent by mass of chestnuts on the net drained weight; and
Not more than 20 percent of chestnuts which are not whole on the net drained weight for the style
"whole".
2.4.6 Classification of "Defectives"
A container that fails to meet one or more of the applicable quality requirements as set out in sub-section
2.4.1 through 2.4.5 (except extraneous plant material which is based on an average of the entire sample)
shall be considered a "defective".
2.4.7 Lot Acceptance
A lot will be considered as meeting the applicable quality requirements referred to in sub-section 2.4.5.
when the number of "defectives" as defined in sub-section 2.4.6 does not exceed the acceptance
number (c) of an appropriate sampling plan with an AQL of 6.5. (See relevant Codex texts on methods of
analysis and sampling).

3. FOOD ADDITIVES
Maximum Level in the
final product
3.1 Chelating Agent
3.1.1 Sodium polyphosphate Limited by Good Manufacturing Practice
3.2 Antioxidants
3.2.1 L-Ascorbic acid 300 mg/kg expressed as ascorbic acid,
3.2.2 Sodium ascorbate singly or in combination
3.3 Acidifying Agents
3.3.1 Citric acid }
 CODEX STAN 145-1985 4

3.3.2 Malic acid } Limited by Good Manufacturing Practice

3.3.3 L-Tartaric Acid 10 g/kg
3.4 Bleaching Agent
3.4.1 Sulphur dioxide
(not authorized in puree) 30 mg/kg, calculated as S02
3.5 Natural Colouring Agents
3.5.1 Turmeric (CI 75300) }
3.5.2 Crocin (CI 75100) } Limited by Good Manufacturing Practice
3.5.3 Carthamus Yellow (CI 75140)}
3.6 Flavours
3.6.1 Extract of Vanilla } Limited by Good Manufacturing Practice
3.6.2 Vanillin }
3.7 Thickening Agents

3.7.1 Pectins Limited by GMP

4. CONTAMINANTS
Lead (Pb) 1 mg/kg
Tin (Sn) 250 mg/kg

5. HYGIENE
5.1 It is recommended that the product covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled
in accordance with the appropriate sections of the General Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1-
1969), and other Codes of Practice recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission which are
relevant to this product.
5.2 To the extent possible in Good Manufacturing Practice, the product shall be free from objectionable
matter.
5.3 When tested by appropriate methods of sampling and examination, the product:
- shall be free from microorganisms in amounts which may represent a hazard to health;
- shall be free from parasites which may represent a hazard to health; and
- shall not contain any substance originating from microorganisms in amounts which may
represent a hazard to health.

6. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

6.1 Fill of Container
6.1.1 Minimum Fill
The container shall be well filled with chestnuts or chestnut puree and the product (including packing
medium) shall occupy not less than 90 percent of the water capacity of the container. The water
capacity of the container, is the volume of distilled water at 20C which the sealed container will hold
when completely filled.
6.1.2 Classification of "Defectives"
A container that fails to meet the requirement for minimum fill (90 percent container capacity) of sub-
section 6.1.1 shall be considered a "defective".
6.1.3 Lot Acceptance
A lot will be considered as meeting the requirement of sub-section 6.1.1 when the number of
"defectives", as defined in sub-section 6.1.2, does not exceed the acceptance number (c) of an
appropriate sampling plan with an AQL of 6.5. (See relevant Codex texts on methods of analysis and
sampling).
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6.1.4 Minimum Drained Weight

6.1.4.1 The drained weight of the product packed with liquid packing medium shall be not less than the following
percentages, calculated on the basis of the weight of distilled water at 20C which the sealed container
will hold when completely filled:
Not less than 300 ml of water capacity of the container 60%
Less than 300 ml of water capacity of the container 55%
6.1.4.2 The requirements for minimum drained weight shall be deemed to be complied with when the average
drained weight of all containers examined is not less than the minimum required, provided that there is
no unreasonable shortage in individual containers.

7. LABELLING
In addition to the requirements of the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX
STAN. 1-1985), the following specific provisions apply:
7.1 Name of the Food
7.1.1 The name of the product shall be "chestnuts" if it meets the definition in section 1.1.1 or "chestnut puree"
if it meets the definition in section 1.1.2.
7.1.2 The style, as appropriate, shall be declared as a part of the name or in close proximity to the name:
"Whole"
"Brokens"
"Sweetened" } in the case of chestnut puree only
"Unsweetened" }
If the product is produced in accordance with the other styles provision in sub-section 1.2.3, the label
shall contain in close proximity to the name of the product such additional words or phrases that will
avoid misleading or confusing the consumer.
7.1.3 The term "unpellicled" shall be declared as appropriate as part of the name or in close proximity to the
name.
7.1.4 The packing medium shall be declared as part of the name or in close proximity to the name:
7.1.4.1 When the packing medium is composed of water, the packing medium shall be declared as:
"In water" or "Packed in water".
7.1.4.2 When nutritive sweeteners are added to water, the packing medium shall be declared as:
"Slightly sweetened water"
"Water slightly sweetened"
"Extra light syrup"
"Light syrup"
"Heavy syrup"
"Extra heavy syrup"
7.1.4.3 When the packing medium contains no added sweetening agents, the term "no added sugar" or other
words of similar import may be used in association with, or in close proximity to the name of the food.

8. METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING

See relevant Codex texts on methods of analysis and sampling.