Quality
Quality classification standard for cleaned lingonberries
I DEFINITION OF PRODUCT
This classification standard applies to fresh or frozen cleaned wild Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.)
II QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements and quality classification for Lingonberries at delivery or after cleaning and freezing.
A. Minimum requirements
Applied to all classes and in addition to the quality tolerance and specific requirements of each class.
Lingonberries must:
- be whole and firm
- be fresh in appearance
- be sound: berries which are spoiled or inedible due to due to fermentation or for other reasons are not acceptable
- be clean: berries should be free from foreign matter or abnormal external moisture (natural moisture associated with ripe berries is acceptable)
- be loose: clusters or berries adhering to one another are not acceptable
- be of good visual quality
Lingonberries must not:
- have foreign taste or smell
- have abnormal leakage of juice
- have insect or pest damage
- contain for than 6% by weight of defective berries: Unripe or slightly unripe, pale , black, brown, damaged by frost, dried, crushed, or damaged in some other way, other edible berries
- contain not more than 30 particles/ kg of impurites: leaves, stems or other harmless foreign matter
B. Classification
Lingonberries are classified in three quality classes:
Extra class
Lingonberries in this class must be:
- of superior quality, well developed
- bright or dark red, uniform in colour
- uniform in size
- of excellent typical Lingonberry flavour
Class I
Lingonberries in this class must be:
- of good quality, reasonably well developed
- well coloured
- reasonably uniform in size
- of good typical Lingonberry flavour
Class II
Lingonberries in this class must be:
- reasonably well developed
- of typical Lingonberry colour
- of typical Lingonberry flavour
III QUALITY TOLERANCE
Berries not meeting the requirements of each class are allowed according to the following quantities and conditions per shipment.
Extra class
- a maximum of 5% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable, providing they meet the standard of Class I
- practically free of defective lingonberries
- practically free of foreign matter
Class I
- a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable, providing they meet the standard of Class II
- the proportion of defective berries should not be more than 2% by weight
- not more than 10 particles/kg of foreign matter is allowable
Class II
- a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable, providing they meet the minimum standard
- the proportion of defective berries should not be more than 4% by weight
- not more than 20 particles/kg of foreign matter is allowable
IV PACKING
A. Uniformity of quality
The contents of every package must be uniform. Packages must contain berries of the same origin and quality. In the Extra class the contents of each package must be uniform in size and in degree of ripeness. The visible part of the contents of the package must represent the entirety.
B. Packaging
Lingonberries must be packaged in such a way that the produce is well protected. Materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of such quality that they do not cause any internal or external damage to the produce. Non toxic inks and glues must be used on packaging (especialy on paper). Packages must not contain foreign matter or objects.
V MARKINGS
Each package must have the following markings on the same side of the package, clearly and permanently written. Markings must be visible on the outside surface.
- Name of the product, if it is not visible from the outside
- Quality class
- Name and address of manufacturer, packer or seller
- Origin: county or area; district or country where it is grown, a regional or local place name is also recommended.
- Net weight
Quality classification standard for uncleaned lingonberries
I DEFINITION OF PRODUCT
This classification standard applies to fresh or frozen uncleaned wild Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.)
II QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements and classifications of Lingonberries at delivery.
A. Minimum requirements
Applied to all classes and in addition to the quality tolerance and specific requirements of each class.
Lingonberries must:
- be whole and firm
- be fresh in apperance
- be sound: berries which are spoiled or inedible due to due to fermentation or for other reasons are not acceptable
- be clean: berries should be free from foreign matter or abnormal external moisture (natural moisture associated with ripe berries is acceptable)
- be of good visual quality
Lingonberries must not:
- have foreign taste or smell
- have abnormal leakage of juice
- have insect or pest damage
- contain more than 7% by weight of defective berries: Unripe or slightly unripe, pale, black, brown, damaged by frost , dried, crushed, or damaged in some other way, other edible berries
- contain not more than 4% by weight of impurites: leaves, stems or other harmless foreign matter
B. Classification
Lingonberries are classified in two quality classes
Class I
Lingonberries in this class must be:
- of good quality, well developed
- bright or dark red, uniform in colour
- uniform in size
- of good typical Lingonberry flavour
Class II
Lingonberries in this class must be:
- reasonably well developed
- of typical Lingonberry colour
- of typical Lingonberry flavour
III QUALITY TOLERANCE
Berries not meeting the requirements of each class are allowed according to the following quantities and conditions per shipment.
Class I
- a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable providing they meet the standdard of class II
- the proportion of defective Lingonberries should not be more than 3% by weight
- not more than 1% by weight of foreign matter is allowable
Class II
- a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class is allowable, providing they meet minimum standards
- the proportion of defective lingonberries should not be more than 5% by weight
- not more than 3% by weight of foreign matter is allowable
IV PACKING
A. Uniformity of quality
The contents of every package must be uniform. Packages must contain berries of the same origin and quality. The visible part of the contents of the package must represent the entirety.
B. Packaging
Lingonberries must be packaged in such a way that the produce is well protected. Materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of such quality that they do not cause any internal or external damage to the product. Non toxic inks and glues must be used on packaging. Packages must not contain foreign matter or objects.
V MARKINGS
Each package must have the following markings on the same side of the package, clearly and permanently written. Markings must be visible on the outer surface.
- Name of the product, if it is not visible from the outside
- Quality class
- Name and address of manufacturer, packer or seller
- Origin: county or area, country or district where it is grown, a regional or local place name is also recommended.
- Net weight
