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Use of mineral-oil based batching oil in the process of
manufacturing jute bags used for packaging food grade materials
has been a matter of concern for the final consumers due to
alleged and possible hydro-carbon contamination of such bags. In
order to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of all concerned, IJO organised an international workshop in February 1998 in
Calcutta which was attended by the producers and buyers of the
jute bags and also by end-user industries of food grade
materials like Cocoa Beans, Coffee Beans and Shelled Nuts. The
workshop resulted in the elaboration of a draft standard
specification for jute bags used in the packaging of such food
grade materials, including the establishment of maximum
tolerance levels for hydrocarbon residues. The standard arrived
at stipulates that the bags should not contain unsaponifiables
exceeding 1,250 mg/kg. The International Jute Council (IJC)
accepted the recommendation of this workshop in March 1998 and
adopted the specifications as IJO Standard 98/01. The standard
entered into force on 01 October 1998.
The standard has been accepted by the International Cocoa
organisation in May 1998.
IJO Standard 98/01
[Special Criteria for the Manufacture of Jute Bags used in the
Packing of Selected Food Grade Materials (Cocoa Beans, Coffee
Beans and Shelled Nuts)].
1. Introduction and General provisions
These IJO criteria have been established in response to the
perceived need to provide for a universally acceptable
specifications relating to the manufacture of jute bags used in
the packing of food materials with particular reference to cocoa
beans, coffee beans and shelled nuts. The criteria are intended
to facilitate the minimization of mineral hydrocarbon
contamination arising from the use of jute bags. Good
manufacturing practice shall be followed in the production of
jute bags which should meet the defined chemical and
organoleptic criteria described in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 below.
Jute bags shall also conform to the legal requirements for food
packaging materials and waste management of the respective
countries.
2. Analytical Criteria
Ingredients of batching oils shall be non-toxic and approved for
use in packaging materials that will come into contact with the
selected food materials. Batching oils shall not contain
compounds that could produce off-flavours or off-tastes in food
material packed in jute bags.
2.1.
Chemical Criteria
Unsaponifiables <1250 mg/kg
2.2
Organoleptic Criteria.
Jute bags shall be analysed for their olfactory qualities. No
undesirable odours or odours untypical of jute shall be present.
No unacceptable odours shall develop after artificial ageing of
the bags. [The ageing procedure described in EN 766 shall be
used for this purpose (Reference 2)].
References:
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International
Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) 2.401
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Sacks for the Transport of food aid, European Standard EN 766.
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Erstwhile British Standard 3845:1990 ( Method for the
determination of added oil content of jute yarn, rove and
fabric )
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