CODEX STAN 186-1993 Standard for Prickly Pear
1. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This Standard applies to the fruit of commercial varieties of prickly pears grown from Opuntia ficus indica, O. streptachanthae, and O. lindheimeiri, of the Cactaceae family, to be supplied fresh to the consumer, after preparation and packaging. Prickly pears for industrial processing are excluded.
2. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the prickly pears must be:
- whole;
- sound, produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded;
- clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter;
- practically free of damage caused by pests;
- free of abnormal external moisture, excluding condensation following removal from cold storage;
- free of any foreign smell and/or taste;
- firm;
- fresh in appearance;
- free of damage caused by low temperatures;
- free of prickles;
- free of pronounced blemishes;
- sufficiently developed and display satisfactory ripeness, depending on the nature of the produce.
Depending on the prickly pear variety, the receptacle of the fruit will be flat or slightly hollow. The prickly pears must have a shape, colour, taste and smell characteristic of the species.
