Compliance
FSSAI standards for tur dal, in plain English
The legal limits for moisture, foreign matter and damaged grain, and what they mean when you inspect a lot.
Key takeaways
- Tur (arhar) dal may hold at most 14% moisture and 1% foreign matter.
- Damaged grain is capped at 5% and weevilled grain at 3% by count.
- These are legal minimums. Good commercial specifications are tighter.
| Parameter | Legal limit |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Max 14% by weight |
| Foreign (extraneous) matter | Max 1% by weight |
| of which mineral matter | Max 0.25% |
| of which animal-origin impurities | Max 0.10% |
| Other edible grains | Max 0.5% by weight |
| Damaged grains | Max 5% by weight |
| Weevilled grains | Max 3% by count |
| Foreign matter + other grains + damaged, combined | Max 6% by weight |
| Uric acid | Max 100 mg/kg |
| Aflatoxin | Max 30 µg/kg |
Standards are amended from time to time. Always check the current text on fssai.gov.in.
How to check a lot yourself
- Draw a fair sampleTake grain from several bags and several depths, not just the top of one bag.
- Measure moistureA grain moisture meter gives a quick reading; a laboratory oven test is the reference.
- Count, do not guessCount weevilled grains in a counted sample of 100, and weigh out foreign matter and damage.
- Keep a retained sampleSeal and label a portion of every lot you accept, in case of a later dispute.
Quick answers
14% by weight under the FSSAI standard for split pulse (dal) arhar.
At most 1% by weight for arhar dal, of which mineral matter may be at most 0.25% and animal-origin impurities at most 0.10%.
Buying or packing pulses? Tell us the product, quantity and destination and we will come back with a number.
