The Export Operator Notes
Tomato Paste Brix Explained: What It Tells Buyers and What It Does Not
Brix is a concentration measure It does not, by itself, establish colour, viscosity, flavour, process, defect level, authenticity, safety or performance in the buyer's recipe
What Brix tells the buyer
For processed tomato concentrate, soluble solids indicate how much tomato material is concentrated relative to water under the specified analytical basis Higher concentration can reduce the amount of product a downstream user needs for a target solids contribution, but actual recipe yield also depends on loss, viscosity, dilution and process behaviour
Codex CXS 57 defines processed tomato concentrate and sets product provisions, including natural total soluble solids Read the current standard in full rather than treating one number as the whole definition
Evidence: Codex Standard for Processed Tomato Concentrates, CXS 57-1981
How to use common trade bands
Buyers often request bands such as 28 to 30 Brix or 36 to 38 Brix Treat these as commercial concentration bands that still require a test method, tolerance, pricing basis and statement of whether the result is corrected or reported under a specific temperature basis
Do not compare two prices per tonne without normalizing usable solids, packaging loss, freight, process yield and the full specification A higher Brix product is not automatically better for every application
What Brix does not tell you
USDA grade standards also evaluate quality attributes such as flavour, colour and freedom from defects, which illustrates why concentration alone is incomplete The applicable contract may use different standards and methods
- Hot break or cold break processing and the resulting performance profile
- Consistency or flow under the agreed method
- Colour value and stability
- pH, acidity, flavour and aroma
- Skin, seed, dark specks, mould or other defects
- Microbiological status and commercial sterility where applicable
- Added salt or other permitted ingredients
- Authenticity, pesticide residues or contaminant compliance
- Aseptic bag, drum, tin, lining and seal integrity
A defensible tomato paste specification
Use a sampling plan appropriate to the lot and decision A single convenient sample cannot represent a large lot by assumption
- Product identity, intended use and destination
- Brix target, tolerance, method and sampling point
- Break process if performance depends on it
- Consistency method and acceptance range
- Colour method and range
- pH, acidity, sensory and defect criteria
- Microbiological and contaminant criteria
- Pack, net weight, aseptic system or tin, pallet and storage
- Certificate of analysis, inspection, retained sample and dispute test
Tomato paste RFQ
- Application and destination
- Brix band, method and tolerance
- Break and consistency requirements
- Colour, pH, acidity and sensory
- Defect and microbiological criteria
- Pack and aseptic or can integrity
- Sampling, CoA and release
- Storage, shelf life and claim process
Common trade bands are not universal quality grades Confirm the current Codex text, destination law, buyer application and manufacturer capability before fixing values or claims
Official sources
Sources are selected for the claims in this guide. Requirements can change, so verify the current rule for your product and destination before acting.
Related next step
Start a sourcing request
Send the product, destination, packaging, estimated volume and required certifications. Galaxa will identify the missing specification and qualification fields before approaching a manufacturer.