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Technical Data Governance

Scope: terminology, units, value classification and method conventions used across the HONGJI potato flake and powder technical documentation series. Applies to: all documents in domains 01–09 of this knowledge center. Document family: HJ-TD (technical documentation).

Short Answer

Every number published on this site is one of six kinds of value: a typical value, a guaranteed specification, a process target, a range, a batch-specific value (COA), or a customer-specific value. They are not interchangeable. A guaranteed specification is the value a buyer can hold HONGJI to in a purchase contract; a typical value describes what production normally achieves; a COA value describes one delivered lot. Where a figure appears without a label, the label is stated in the table header or the surrounding text of that document.

1. Value classification (read this before quoting any number)

Class Meaning How it is used in contracts and COAs Example form
Typical value Normal production outcome, not a limit Reference only — never a guaranteed limit 6–8% moisture typical
Guaranteed specification Contractual limit declared in the product specification Buyer-facing acceptance limit; verified per batch on the COA Moisture ≤ 9.0%
Process target In-process aim that keeps output inside the specification Internal control parameter ≤ 6.0% at the doctor blade
Range Observed spread for a defined grade or product Grade description; individual lots may sit anywhere in the range Bulk density 350–500 g/L (loose)
Batch-specific value Analytical result for one production lot Carried on the COA for that shipment only 7.8 g/g — see COA
Customer-specific value Value agreed for a particular buyer's application Set in the order confirmation / purchase specification Customised particle size to customer sieve curve

Three rules that follow from the table:

  1. A typical value is never presented as a guaranteed specification.
  2. A single COA result is never presented as a universal product specification.
  3. No value is published merely to complete a table. Where HONGJI has no verified figure, the row is omitted or explicitly marked as not applicable.

2. Terminology and units

Term Definition used here Unit convention
Moisture Water content of the finished product, expressed on an as-received basis % (w/w)
Dry matter (DM) Solids fraction of raw potato, the inverse of raw-tuber moisture % (fresh weight)
Reducing sugars Sugars that participate in the Maillard reaction during frying or baking % (w/w), dry basis (dwb) where stated
Total sugars Reducing sugars plus non-reducing sugars (chiefly sucrose) % (w/w), dwb
Blue value Iodine-staining index used as an indicator of starch damage and free starch dimensionless, absorbance-based
Bulk density Mass of product per unit volume, measured loose or after tapping g/L; g/cm³ where the source document uses it
Particle size Sieve or laser-diffraction characterisation of the powder or flake fraction mesh and µm/mm (see §4)
Rehydration ratio Mass of water absorbed per unit mass of dry product under a defined test g/g, expressed as x : 1
Water absorption Water taken up by the ingredient in a formulated system % or g/g, method-dependent
Colour Instrumental colour in CIELAB space L*, a*, b* (D65/10°)
Water activity (aw) Available water, distinct from moisture content dimensionless

Dashes and symbols: ranges are written with an en dash (6–8), limits with ≤/≥, and ratios as 7.5 : 1. Units are stated in metric SI form; MT means metric tonne (1,000 kg).

3. Specification conventions

  • Specifications are declared in the product specification and restated in the technical datasheets; the specification governs where wording differs.
  • Each specification row states the test method and, in the product specification, the test frequency (for example: annual verification plus per-batch COA).
  • Test methods are named by their standard (for example GB 5009.3, AOAC 925.10, ISO 4833). Internal procedures carry HONGJI method codes such as HJ-QA-025.
  • Method comparability: a value obtained by a Chinese national standard method (GB) and the same nominal parameter obtained by an AOAC or ISO method are not automatically interchangeable. Where a buyer's specification cites a different method, the method should be agreed explicitly rather than assumed to give the same number.
  • Regulatory references: the potato flake specification is written against SB/T 10752-2012 (Potato Flakes) where a Chinese standard applies, plus customer requirements.

4. Mesh vs micron — do not interchange blindly

Mesh is a sieve designation, not a length. The micron equivalent of a mesh number depends on the sieve standard in force (ASTM E11, ISO 3310-1, Tyler and others define apertures differently) and only a defined aperture can be converted into millimetres.

HONGJI therefore states powder fineness in both terms together, from the same sieve table:

Sieve mesh Nominal aperture Standard 60-mesh grade Fine (80 mesh) Ultra-fine (100 mesh)
40 mesh 425 µm 100% passing 100% 100%
60 mesh 250 µm ≥ 95% passing 100% 100%
80 mesh 180 µm 50–80% ≥ 95% 100%
100 mesh 150 µm 20–50% 50–80% ≥ 97%
200 mesh 75 µm ≤ 15% ≤ 20% ≤ 30%

Flake products are described by their as-produced flake size and by their delivered sieve distribution, which are different measurements: flakes leave the line at 3–5 mm, while handling and transport break a proportion of them into finer material, widening the delivered distribution to 0.25–3.35 mm. Both figures are correct; the distinction is stated wherever they appear.

5. Product grade naming

Grade Naming used Particle size Typical applications
Potato flakes Potato Flakes 3–5 mm as produced Instant mash, bakery dough, extrusion, binder systems
Potato powder — standard Potato Powder, 60 Mesh, Standard Grade ≥ 95% through 250 µm Dry mixes, seasoning blends, batter and breading
Potato powder — premium Potato Powder, 60 Mesh, Premium Grade ≥ 95% through 250 µm Instant mash blends, clean-label formulations
Potato powder — fine Potato Powder, 80 Mesh, Fine Grade ≥ 95% through 180 µm Sauces and gravies, lump-free thickening
Potato powder — ultra-fine Potato Powder, 100 Mesh, Ultra-Fine ≥ 97% through 150 µm Beverage powders, cold-water dispersion

Item codes (for example HJ-PP-60-01) identify a grade, its packaging and its minimum order quantity.

6. Variety naming

Varieties are named by their recognised cultivar name only: Atlantic, Shepody, Russet Burbank, Innovator. Company names — for example McCain Foods — are processors, not varieties, and are not used as variety names anywhere in this series.

7. COA interpretation

A certificate of analysis is a lot-specific document. It reports the analytical results for the batch actually shipped, tested against the product specification, and accompanies every shipment together with the documentation package (COA, phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, bill of lading, packing list, insurance certificate).

When reading a COA, check in this order:

  1. Product and grade — does it match the grade ordered?
  2. Lot / batch number — does it tie to the shipment and to the traceability record?
  3. Method — is the method stated, and does it match the method in the specification the order was placed against?
  4. Result vs limit — a "pass" is a statement about the specification in force for that order, not a universal claim about the product.
  5. Conformance statement and release — who approved the lot for release.

Our Certificate of Analysis Guide explains each parameter line by line.

8. Internal method codes referenced in this series

Code family What it covers Example
HJ-TD-… Controlled technical documentation (specifications, datasheets, procedures) HJ-TD-PE-03-PK/1-01-D-2025
HJ-TD-PE-… Production-entity archive documents (food safety system, traceability, allergen, fraud) HJ-TD-PE-01-B-2024
HJ-QA-… Analytical and quality-assurance test methods HJ-QA-025 (rehydration)
HJ-QC-FC-…, HJ-SOP-FC-… Quality-control forms and standard operating procedures HJ-SOP-FC-001

See Document Control & Technical Team for how these documents are numbered, versioned and reviewed.

9. How to quote HONGJI figures

  • Quote the value with its class — for example "guaranteed specification ≤ 9.0% moisture" is accurate; "moisture is 6%" is not.
  • Keep the test method with the number when it matters to comparability.
  • Keep the document code and version if you are quoting a controlled document.
  • Do not convert mesh to micron without the sieve standard that produced the mesh figure.

Part of the Hongji Agriculture (弘基农业) Technical Documentation Series — hjpotatoflakes.com