Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)RegulationsRegulations relating to the Grading, Packing and Marking of Pineapples intended for sale in the Republic of South AfricaPart IIIMethods of Inspection17. Determination of brix |
| (1) | The brix of the pineapples in a consignment shall be determined with a calibrated refractometer. |
| (2) | At least ten fruit shall be taken from the containers drawn for inspection in regulation 14, for the obtaining of a representative juice sample (the fruit must preferably be taken from different containers). Both halves of each fruit should be tested. |
| (3) | A representative juice sample shall be obtained as follows: |
| (a) | Use a knife to cut each of the ten fruit obtained in subregulation 17(2) in half at right angles to its longitudinal axis. |
| (b) | Use a knife to repeatedly prick the flesh of the cut fruits as thoroughly as possible. |
| (c) | Squeeze the cut half in order to obtain juice. |
| (4) | To determine brix, the following procedure shall be followed: |
| (a) | Clean the prism plate with distilled water and wipe off with a clean, dry tissue. |
| (b) | Place an equal number of two or more juice drops on the prism plate of the refractometer. |
| (c) | Note the reading on the prism scale to one decimal place. |
| (d) | Determine the average reading of the ten fruits. |
| (e) | Such average reading represents the brix of the consignment concerned. |
| (5) | If the test does not comply, another sample shall be drawn and tested. The consignment shall be approved if the average of all the ten fruits thus tested complies with the aforesaid prescribed requirement. If the second test of the average of all ten fruits thus tested doesn't comply with the aforesaid prescribed requirement the consignment shall be rejected. |