Consistent quality and food safety are essential when you supply organic dates to demanding retail chains,
food manufacturers and importers worldwide. At Kartago Dates, we have implemented a structured quality
control system that covers every step of the process – from the farmer to the final packed product.

On this page, we present our main quality controls, the standards we follow and how we guarantee safe,
clean and compliant organic dates for bulk and private label projects.

1. Raw Material Reception and Initial Inspection

Quality starts with carefully selected growers and orchards. When raw dates arrive at our facility, each
lot is checked against predefined specifications:

• visual inspection (color, size, defects, damages),
• moisture level control,
• foreign matter check (stones, leaves, insects, etc.),
• verification of certificates and origin documents.

Only lots that meet our internal requirements and the customer’s specifications are accepted and released
for further processing.

2. Sorting, Grading and Calibration

To ensure consistent quality, dates are sorted and graded according to:

• size and calibration,
• color and visual uniformity,
• defects tolerance,
• intended use (industrial, food service, retail packs).

3. Cleaning, Washing and Pitting

Before pitting and final packing, dates pass through cleaning processes designed to remove dust and small
particles, while preserving the natural integrity of the fruit.

• washing and gentle drying when required,
• air blowing or brushing systems,
• controlled pitting process with regular checks.

Pitting lines are continuously monitored to reduce the risk of remaining pits and fragments.

4. Metal Detection and Foreign Body Control

As part of our food safety approach, we use calibrated metal detectors and, when necessary, X-ray systems
to detect foreign bodies before packing.

• metal detection on filled cartons or bags,
• periodic validation of the equipment,
• record keeping for each production batch,
• clear procedures in case of non-conformity.

This step is essential for customers supplying large retailers and international brands, where food safety
incidents are not acceptable.

5. Packaging, Labeling and Final Release

Before products are released for shipment, our quality team performs final checks on:

• net weight and packaging integrity,
• labels and mandatory information,
• batch codes and traceability,
• compliance with customer specifications.

Sampling plans may include microbiological tests, moisture verification and organoleptic evaluation,
depending on the market and product type.

6. Food Safety and International Standards

Our quality management system is built to align with international standards requested by our customers,
such as organic regulations, HACCP principles and recognized food safety schemes.

Combined with our
official certifications, this gives
importers, retailers and manufacturers a clear, documented framework for evaluating and approving our
products.

7. Adapted Quality for Bulk and Private Label

Different markets require different quality levels. We can adapt our grading and tolerances based on:

• industrial use (date paste, ingredients),
• food service (HORECA, catering),
• retail and private label brands.

For private label projects, our
private label team works closely with you to
define the right specifications, packaging format and visual positioning.