CODEX STANDARD FOR CANNED BAMBOO SHOOTS
(CODEX STAN 241-2003)
1 SCOPE
This Standard applies to canned bamboo shoots, as defined in Section 2 below, and offered for direct
consumption, including for catering purposes or for repacking or for further processing.
2 DESCRIPTION
2.1 PRODUCT DEFINITION
Canned bamboo shoots is the product:
(a) prepared from edible bamboo shoots in packing media with or without fermentation;
(b) processed by heat, in an appropriate manner, before or after being hermetically sealed in a
container, so as to prevent spoilage.
(c) The pH value of the product shall be as follows:
(i) natural fermented bamboo shoots product - pH lower than 4.0;
(ii) acidified bamboo shoots product - pH 4.0 – 4.6;
(iii) non-fermented, non acidified bamboo shoots product - pH higher than 4.6.
2.2 SPECIES
Any edible bamboo shoots may be used.
2.3 STYLES
2.3.1 Whole - Bamboo shoots with tips and flesh trimmed to remove the outer surfaces and hard bases.
2.3.2 Half - Whole bamboo shoots cut longitudinally into halves.
2.3.3 Slice - Bamboo shoots cut into uniform slices.
2.3.4 Strip - Bamboo shoots cut into fine strips of regular size.
2.3.5 Dice - Bamboo shoots cut into cubes of regular size.
2.3.6 Other Styles
Any other presentation of the product should be permitted provided that the product:
(a) is sufficiently distinctive from other forms of presentation laid down in the Standard;
(b) meets all relevant requirements of the Standard, including requirements relating to limitations
on defects, drained weight, and any other requirements which are applicable to that style which
most closely resembles the style or styles intended to be provided for under this provision; and
(c) is adequately described on the label to avoid confusing or misleading the consumer.
3 ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS
3.1 COMPOSITION
3.1.1 Basic Ingredients
Bamboo shoots as defined in Section 2 and liquid packing medium appropriate to the product. CODEX STAN 241 Page 2 of 3
3.1.2 Packing Media
In accordance with the Codex Guidelines for Packing Media for Canned Vegetables (under
development) including lactic fermentation liquid.
3.1.3 Other Permitted Ingredients
(a) Chilli, peppers;
(b) Edible aromatic plants.
3.2 QUALITY CRITERIA
Canned bamboo shoots shall have normal colour, flavour and odour and shall possess a texture
characteristic of the product.
3.2.1 Defects and Allowances
The maximum permissible limitations for irregularities and shape are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Item Style Limitations
(a) none if less than 3 per can;
(b) 1 unit if 3-5 per can;
(c) 2 units if 6-9 per can;
1 Whole or half
(d) 3 units per every 10 if more than 10 per can.
2 Slice, strip, dice 20% by drained weight.
4 FOOD ADDITIVES
4.1 ACIDITY REGULATORS
INS No. Name of the Food Additive Maximum Level
260 Acetic acid
270 Lactic acid
296 Malic acid
330 Citric acid
Limited by GMP
334 Tartaric acid 1300 mg/kg
5 CONTAMINANTS
5.1 HEAVY METALS
The product covered by the provisions of this Standard shall comply with those maximum levels for
heavy metals established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for this product.
5.2 PESTICIDE RESIDUES
The product covered by the provisions of this Standard shall comply with those maximum pesticide
residue limits established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for this product. CODEX STAN 241 Page 3 of 3
6 HYGIENE
6.1 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 Recommended International Code of Practice – General
Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1-1969, Rev. 4-2003), Recommended International Code of
Hygienic Practice for Low-Acid and Acidified Low-Acid Canned Foods (CAC/RCP 23-1979, Rev. 2-1993)
and other relevant Codex texts such as codes of hygienic practice and codes of practice.
6.2 The product should comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance with the
Principles for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997).
7 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
7.1 FILL OF CONTAINER
7.1.1 Minimum Fill
The container should be well filled with bamboo shoots and the product (including packing medium)
should occupy not less than 90% of the water capacity of the container. The water capacity of the container
is the volume of distilled water at 20o
C which the sealed container will hold when completely filled.
7.1.2 Minimum Drained Weight
The drained weight of the product should be not less than 50% of the net weight, calculated on the
basis of the weight of distilled water at 20o
C which the sealed container will hold when completely filled1
.
8 LABELLING
The product covered by the provisions of this Standard shall be labelled in accordance with the Codex
General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX STAN 1-1985, Rev. 1-1991). In
addition, the following specific provisions apply:
8.1 NAME OF THE PRODUCT
The name of the product shall be “bamboo shoots”, “bamboo shoots”, “boiled bamboo shoots” or
“fermented bamboo shoots”. The style, as appropriate, shall be declared as part of the name.
8.2 LABELLING OF NON-RETAIL CONTAINERS
Information for non-retail containers shall be given either on the container or in accompanying
documents, except that the name of the product, lot identification, and the name and address of the
manufacturer, packer, distributor or importer, as well as storage instructions, shall appear on the container.
However, lot identification, and the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor or importer
may be replaced by an identification mark, provided that such a mark is clearly identifiable with the
accompanying documents.
9 METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING
See Codex Alimentarius Volume 13.