Technical Data Sheet (TDS)¶
Standards-Based Definition¶
A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is a comprehensive technical reference document that defines the standard specifications, physical and chemical properties, microbiological limits, packaging formats, storage conditions, and application guidelines for a specific paprika product grade, providing the baseline against which batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are compared.
Overview¶
The TDS is the authoritative reference document for any paprika product. Where the COA provides batch-specific test results, the TDS establishes the static specification boundaries that every batch of that grade must meet. It serves multiple functions: it is the technical foundation of the sales contract (the spec limits in the purchase order are extracted from the TDS), the QC reference for incoming inspection, the food safety assessment document for regulatory submissions, and the technical datasheet provided to end-use customers (food manufacturers, industrial processors). A well-constructed TDS prevents misunderstandings by clearly defining what "Grade A Paprika, ASTA 160" actually means — right down to the test method and tolerance range.
Technical Explanation¶
Complete TDS Contents (Standard Paprika Powder Grade)¶
| Section | Parameter | Specification | Tolerance | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Product Identification | Product Name | Paprika Powder, Sweet | — | — |
| Botanical Name | Capsicum annuum L. | — | — | |
| Product Code / SKU | PP-SW-160 | — | — | |
| Grade | Grade A | — | — | |
| 2. Physical Properties | Color — Visual | Bright red, uniform | No visible discoloration | Visual inspection |
| ASTA Color Value | 160 | ±10 (min 150) | ASTA 20.1 | |
| Particle Size | 95% through 40 mesh (425 µm) | ±3% | ISO 2591-1 / ASTM E11 | |
| Moisture Content | 8.0% max | ±0.5% | ISO 939 | |
| Water Activity (aw) | ≤0.60 | — | AOAC 978.18 | |
| Bulk Density (untapped) | 0.40–0.50 g/cm³ | — | ISO 3953 | |
| Bulk Density (tapped) | 0.55–0.70 g/cm³ | — | ISO 3953 | |
| Foreign Matter | ≤0.5% | — | ISO 927 | |
| 3. Chemical Properties | Pungency (Scoville Heat Units) | ≤500 SHU | — | HPLC / ISO 7543-2 |
| Capsaicin Content | ≤0.03% | — | ISO 7543-1 | |
| Total Ash | ≤8.0% | — | ISO 928 | |
| Acid-Insoluble Ash | ≤1.0% | — | ISO 930 | |
| Volatile Oil | ≥0.3 mL/100g | — | ISO 6571 | |
| Crude Fiber | ≤20% | — | ISO 5498 | |
| 4. Heavy Metals | Lead (Pb) | ≤2.0 mg/kg | — | AOAC 2015.01 (ICP-MS) |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤1.0 mg/kg | — | AOAC 2015.01 (ICP-MS) | |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤1.0 mg/kg | — | AOAC 2015.01 (ICP-MS) | |
| Mercury (Hg) | ≤0.1 mg/kg | — | AOAC 2015.01 (ICP-MS) | |
| 5. Mycotoxins | Aflatoxin B₁ | ≤5.0 µg/kg | — | ISO 16050 / HPLC |
| Total Aflatoxins (B₁+B₂+G₁+G₂) | ≤10.0 µg/kg | — | ISO 16050 / HPLC | |
| Ochratoxin A | ≤10.0 µg/kg | — | ISO 15141 / HPLC | |
| 6. Microbiological | Salmonella spp. | Absent / 25 g | — | ISO 6579-1 |
| E. coli | ≤10 CFU/g | — | ISO 16649-2 | |
| Aerobic Plate Count | ≤100,000 CFU/g | — | ISO 4833-1 | |
| Yeast & Mold | ≤1,000 CFU/g | — | ISO 21527-1 | |
| Bacillus cereus | ≤1,000 CFU/g | — | ISO 7932 | |
| Enterobacteriaceae | ≤1,000 CFU/g | — | ISO 21528-2 | |
| Clostridium perfringens | ≤1,000 CFU/g | — | ISO 7937 | |
| Staphylococcus aureus | ≤100 CFU/g | — | ISO 6888-1 | |
| 7. Packaging | Standard Package | 25 kg kraft paper bag + PE liner | ±1% net weight | — |
| Palletization | 45 bags/pallet, 1,125 kg net | 1,100 × 1,100 mm | — | |
| 8. Storage | Temperature | ≤25°C (ambient) | — | — |
| Relative Humidity | ≤55% | — | — | |
| Shelf Life (powder) | 18 months from production date | — | — | |
| Shelf Life (whole dried) | 24 months from harvest date | — | — | |
| 9. Nutritional (per 100g) | Energy | 282 kcal / 1,180 kJ | — | AOAC |
| Total Fat | 13 g | — | AOAC | |
| — Saturated | 2.1 g | — | AOAC | |
| Carbohydrates | 54 g | — | AOAC | |
| — Sugars | 10 g | — | AOAC | |
| Dietary Fiber | 21 g | — | AOAC | |
| Protein | 14 g | — | AOAC | |
| Salt | 0.05 g | — | AOAC | |
| Vitamin A (as β-carotene) | 49,000 IU / 14,800 µg RAE | — | HPLC | |
| Vitamin C | 5 mg | — | AOAC | |
| Iron | 7 mg (50% RDA) | — | AOAC | |
| Potassium | 2,340 mg | — | AOAC | |
| 10. Regulatory & Certifications | Allergen Status | Free from the 14 EU allergens and US major allergens | — | GMP/hygiene control |
| GMO Status | Non-GMO (as defined by EU 1829/2003) | — | Supplier declaration | |
| Organic Certification | [Certification body, number, expiry] | — | Applicable if organic | |
| Kosher Certification | [Certification body, number, expiry] | — | Applicable if kosher | |
| Irradiation Status | Not irradiated | — | Supplier declaration | |
| Ethylene Oxide Status | Not treated with EtO | — | Supplier declaration |
TDS Version Control and Revision History¶
| Version | Date | Section Changed | Change Description | Authorized By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2024-01-15 | Initial release | New product grade | QC Manager |
| 1.1 | 2024-06-20 | Section 5 — Mycotoxins | Updated OTA limit from 15 to 10 µg/kg (EU 2023/915 update) | QC Manager |
| 1.2 | 2025-03-10 | Section 4 — Heavy Metals | Updated Cd limit from 1.0 to 0.5 mg/kg | QC Manager |
| 2.0 | 2026-01-10 | All sections | Full revision for new crop-year specifications | QC Manager |
TDS vs. COA: Critical Distinctions¶
| Aspect | Technical Data Sheet (TDS) | Certificate of Analysis (COA) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Product grade specification | Single batch |
| Values | Specification limits (min/max) | Actual tested results |
| Update Frequency | Annually or when spec changes | Every batch |
| Validity Period | Continuous (current version) | Specific to batch |
| Legal Role | Contract annex/definition | Batch compliance evidence |
| Issued By | Supplier's technical department | Supplier's QC lab |
| Contains | All specs + application + storage data | Test results only |
TDS Use Cases by Stakeholder¶
| Stakeholder | How They Use the TDS | Key Sections Used |
|---|---|---|
| Procurement Buyer | Contract specification definition | Sections 1–6 |
| QC Technical Lead | Incoming inspection standard | Sections 2–6, test methods |
| Regulatory Affairs | Registration, MRL compliance | Sections 4–6, 10 |
| Product Developer | Application suitability assessment | Sections 8–9 |
| Logistics | Storage and transport conditions | Section 8 |
| Nutritionist/Labeling | Nutritional declaration for finished product | Section 9 |
| Sales Representative | Customer communication of product capability | Full TDS |
Industrial & Commercial Importance¶
- Contract Foundation: The specification limits in a TDS are the legal benchmark for acceptance/rejection. A TDS that says "ASTA min 160" with a tolerance of ±10 means anything below 150 is a rejectable non-conformance.
- Risk Management: A TDS that does not include heavy metal or mycotoxin limits exposes the buyer to regulatory risk — if the product is tested at the destination and exceeds regulatory limits, the buyer cannot hold the supplier accountable based on the TDS.
- Regulatory Compliance: EU food importers are legally required to conduct documentary checks verifying imported products meet EC 396/2005 (MRLs), EC 2073/2005 (micro criteria), and EC 1881/2006 (contaminants). The TDS is the starting document for these checks.
- Product Differentiation: A comprehensive, well-structured TDS signals supplier professionalism and technical competence. It is often the first document evaluated during supplier qualification.
Application Guidance for Procurement & QC¶
- Request the TDS during initial supplier evaluation — before sending a purchase order. Verify that all required parameters for your market are covered with appropriate limits.
- Compare TDS with COA: upon receiving each shipment, check that the COA results fall within the TDS specification limits. Flag any value that is more than 10% from the spec boundary.
- Ensure TDS version control: the TDS version number should be referenced in the purchase contract. Any spec change requires a new TDS version and buyer approval.
- Audit TDS currency annually: regulatory limits change (e.g., EU aflatoxin limits, heavy metal limits). A TDS based on 2020 regulations may be non-compliant with 2026 requirements.
- Use the TDS for customs compliance preparation: ensure your TDS covers all parameters required by destination country regulations (especially heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticides for EU-bound shipments).
Cross-References¶
- COA — Batch-specific testing against TDS specifications
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — Safety and handling information
- Specification — Detailed spec management
- Grade — Grade definitions and TDS relationship
- Organic — Organic TDS variations
- HACCP — Food safety framework for spec compliance
Frequently Asked Questions¶
Q: Does a TDS expire? A: A TDS does not have a fixed expiry date like a COA, but it becomes outdated when: (1) regulatory limits change (e.g., EU lowers aflatoxin limits), (2) product formulation or processing changes, (3) new analytical methods replace old ones, or (4) a new crop year reveals significant spec drift. Best practice: review and either reconfirm or revise the TDS annually. A TDS older than 2 years without revision should be assumed outdated.
Q: Can I create my own TDS for a custom blend? A: Yes. When ordering a custom blend from Dinweys, we provide a custom TDS based on your target specification, with ranges negotiated in the contract. The custom TDS serves as the binding specification document for repeated orders of that blend.
Q: What happens if the batch COA values are outside the TDS specification but inside legal limits? A: This is a contractual non-conformance, not necessarily a food safety issue. The buyer has options: (1) reject the batch (requiring return or re-processing at supplier cost), (2) accept with a price reduction proportional to the deviation, or (3) accept for a different application (e.g., lower-ASTA powder still usable for processing but not for premium retail). The purchase contract should specify the price adjustment formula for off-spec material.
Q: How detailed should a TDS be for a commodity-grade vs. premium-grade paprika? A: Commodity-grade TDS should cover at minimum: physical properties (ASTA, moisture, particle size), heavy metals, mycotoxins, and microbiology — the parameters that determine regulatory acceptance. Premium-grade TDS should include all standard parameters plus: water activity, nutritional analysis, volatile oil, capsaicin profile (individual capsaicinoids), antioxidant capacity (ORAC), and application-specific data (dispersion rate, emulsion stability).
Q: What is the difference between a TDS and a Specification Sheet (Spec Sheet)? A: In practice, these terms are often used interchangeably. However, a TDS is typically a broader reference document covering specifications, applications, storage, and nutrition, while a "Spec Sheet" may refer specifically to the specification limits section only. For clarity, use the term TDS and ensure it includes all 10 sections described above.
Q: How does Dinweys ensure TDS accuracy and update frequency? A: Dinweys maintains TDS for each product grade, updated with every new crop year and whenever regulatory limits change. TDS creation follows a standard operating procedure (SOP-TDS-001) requiring: (1) initial data from 5 representative batch COAs, (2) statistical analysis to establish realistic spec ranges, (3) regulatory limit verification against destination markets, (4) QC Manager approval, and (5) distribution to all active buyers of that grade. Revision history and version control are documented in our Quality Management System.
This document is part of the official technical documentation library for paprikabulk.com operated by Dinweys (Qingdao).Co.,Ltd. All rights reserved. For the latest version, visit paprikabulk.com.