Archive
Quality Control
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How are dried herbs graded?
On four axes at once: cut size, colour, leaf-to-stem ratio and volatile oil. Trade grade names are conventions, so the specification has…
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What is steam sterilisation for spices?
A short, controlled exposure to saturated steam that reduces the microbial load, followed by immediate re-drying. It is the mainstream EU alternative…
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Cultivated vs Wild Mushrooms: Supply, Documentation and Where the Risk Sits
Cultivated mushrooms give consistency, continuity and traceability; wild ones give a flavour profile and a species range that cannot be farmed. This…
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Irradiated vs Non-Irradiated Spices: The Decision and What It Costs
Dried herbs and spices are the only category the EU permits to be irradiated, and most European retail specifications exclude it anyway.…
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How do you compare frozen fruit suppliers fairly?
Fix the specification, the Incoterm and the volume first, then compare. Otherwise you are comparing four different products.
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What documents belong in a supplier approval pack?
A certificate, a specification, an allergen and origin statement, a traceability description, insurance and the commercial terms, as a minimum.
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What is a pre-shipment inspection?
A check on the goods before they leave the seller’s control, carried out by the buyer or an appointed third party against…