Vegetables, pulses and potatoes, preserved by vinegar or acetic acid

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers factory-gate production of vegetables, pulses, and potatoes preserved primarily by vinegar or acetic acid, including whole, cut, or otherwise prepared products in an acidic packing medium. It covers direct acidulation of fresh prepared material and a separately declared route in which curing or fermentation precedes final acid adjustment. The foreground boundary begins with receipt of the declared raw or cured material and ends with the stabilized, filled, and sealed product at the preserving facility gate.

Products preserved primarily by freezing, drying, sugar, oil, or salt without vinegar or acetic-acid preservation are excluded. Relishes, kimchi, sauerkraut, table olives, and products whose principal transformation belongs to another product category are excluded. Agricultural production, production of vinegar and other ingredients, inbound transport, distribution, use, and end-of-life remain upstream or downstream linked systems rather than foreground operations in this PCR.

The Tiangong flow Cucumbers 54b947e7-ab56-45c8-8210-9c91b85eb845 is a narrower CPC-21340 representative and may identify only cucumber datasets. A dataset for another vegetable, pulse, or potato must select a semantically appropriate product flow before publication; the cucumber UUID must not be reused merely because the broader category shares CPC 21340.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.meat-fish-fruits-vegetables-oils-and-fats.vegetables-pulses-and-potatoes-preserved-by-vinegar-or-acetic-acid
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 21340 — Vegetables, pulses and potatoes, preserved by vinegar or acetic acid
covered_products	Whole, cut, or prepared vegetables, pulses, and potatoes preserved primarily through vinegar or acetic-acid acidulation; fresh-pack and declared cured or fermented routes; retail, food-service, or repacking packs
excluded_products	Raw, frozen, dried, sugar-preserved, oil-preserved, or salt-only products; relishes; kimchi; sauerkraut; table olives; products intended for a materially different principal transformation
representative_product	Acid-preserved cucumber represented by Tiangong flow Cucumbers; this is narrower than the full category and is not a generic flow for other vegetables, pulses, or potatoes
production_route	Exactly one route per foreground dataset: direct acidulation of prepared fresh material, or curing/fermentation followed by acid adjustment; filling, sealing, and stabilization follow the selected route
market_state	Stabilized product at the preserving facility gate, with product species, presentation, packing medium, preservation route, package format, net mass, and drained mass where relevant declared

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Edible vegetable, pulse, or potato product preserved primarily by vinegar or acetic acid and delivered at the preserving facility gate
How much	1 kg net product mass, including edible packing medium where sold with the product and excluding primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging
How well	Conforming to the declared product identity, route, presentation, packing medium, legally applicable quality and safety specification, and an equilibrium pH of 4.6 or less for products modelled under the cited Codex acid-preserved product definitions
How long or cycle	One production lot at the factory gate after stabilization; no use-duration service is claimed
reference_flow_link	1 kg of final preserved product output from filling_sealing_stabilization

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg net product mass
Reference product flow	Cucumbers 54b947e7-ab56-45c8-8210-9c91b85eb845
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	biological product identity; cucumber versus non-cucumber status; direct-acidulation or cured/fermented route; fresh or cured starting condition; whole or cut presentation; vinegar or acetic-acid medium; formulation and relevant salt or soluble-solids specification; equilibrium pH test basis; net mass; drained mass where applicable; package material and size; stabilization method; production geography; reference period

When constructing a foreground data package, all required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, the reference flow comment, the product description, or an equivalent data-package field. The selected Tiangong UUID does not resolve the broader category identity: it may be used only for cucumber datasets. A non-cucumber dataset is incomplete until a semantically appropriate product flow has been selected and documented.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_product_mass	Reference product output	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Determine net edible product mass on a calibrated mass basis. Include edible packing medium sold with the product and exclude all packaging mass. Normalize the inventory to exactly 1 kg.
batch_material_mass	Raw material, ingredients, packing medium, product, rejects, and wastes	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Record gross, tare, and net mass or a documented equivalent for each production lot; do not mix volume and mass without a measured lot-specific density and conversion record.
equilibrium_ph	Stabilized product and packing medium	Dimensionless pH	pH units	Measure equilibrium pH after the declared equilibration or stabilization condition using a calibrated method, identify the sampled phase and lot, and retain the test result and calibration evidence.
utility_conversion	Electricity, fuels, steam, heat, refrigeration, and compressed air	Energy or metered service	kWh, MJ, kg steam, or declared service unit	Preserve the metered unit and conversion factor; allocate shared utilities only under section 7 and report normalized energy in a consistent unit without treating energy conversion as a mass conversion.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Fresh accepted material for the direct-acidulation route, or cured/fermented material for the cured route, at receipt by the preserving facility; species, prior treatment, moisture or packing condition, and supplier state are declared
starting_condition_role	Foreground gate for receiving and preparation; agricultural production, prior curing performed by a supplier, ingredient manufacture, and inbound transport are linked upstream datasets
product_classification_scope	The semantic scope is vegetables, pulses, and potatoes preserved by vinegar or acetic acid; CPC 3.0 code 21340 is classification context and does not broaden the Cucumbers UUID
recursive_input_rule	If an acid-preserved input already belongs to this same product category, record it once as a purchased product input and link its independently produced upstream dataset; do not recreate its preservation operations inside the consuming foreground package
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link representative datasets for cultivation or primary production, any supplier curing, vinegar or acetic acid, water, salt and other ingredients, energy carriers, packaging materials, treatment of wastes and wastewater, and inbound transport according to actual sourcing
disclosure	Declare product species, cucumber/non-cucumber status, selected route, supplier starting condition, process and storage geography, reference period, stabilization method, packaging, excluded operations, cut-offs, allocation, data gaps, and whether the selected product-flow UUID is semantically valid for the product

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
sb_foreground_completeness	Facility foreground	Include receiving, preparation, the one selected preservation route, filling, sealing, stabilization, utilities, cleaning, product losses, rejects, wastewater, packaging scrap, and known direct emissions from those operations.	eu-pef-2021-2279; codex-cxs-260-2007
sb_route_exclusivity	Preservation route	Model exactly one of direct_acidulation or curing_fermentation_acid_adjustment for a product lot. If a reporting period contains both routes, build separate route inventories and combine only after route-specific normalization using documented output mass shares.	codex-cxs-115-1981; codex-cxs-260-2007
sb_upstream_and_downstream	Linked life-cycle stages	Connect representative upstream datasets for all purchased inputs and services. Distribution, retail, consumer use, and end-of-life are outside this factory-gate foreground dataset and must be added for a cradle-to-grave study.	eu-pef-2021-2279
sb_exclusion_disclosure	Cut-offs and exclusions	Do not apply an unlisted cut-off. Justify and document any exclusion and its potential significance; packaging and treatment of foreground wastes must not be silently omitted.	eu-pef-2021-2279

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
receiving_preparation	Receiving and preparation	required	Always	Receive, inspect, sort, wash, trim, cut, and prepare the declared product material	kg prepared material transferred
direct_acidulation	Direct acidulation and formulation	conditional	Include only when fresh or otherwise uncured prepared material is directly acidulated; exclude when the cured/fermented route is selected	Formulate prepared material with vinegar or acetic-acid medium and declared ingredients	kg acidulated lot transferred
curing_fermentation_acid_adjustment	Curing or fermentation and acid adjustment	conditional	Include only when curing or fermentation occurs within the foreground boundary; exclude when direct acidulation is selected, and treat supplier curing as upstream if received already cured	Cure or ferment material, then adjust with vinegar or acetic acid as declared	kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred
filling_sealing_stabilization	Filling, sealing, and stabilization	required	Always; use the output of the one selected preservation route	Fill product and medium, close the package, apply the declared heat or non-heat stabilization, cool if needed, and release the finished product	1 kg net preserved product

All ranges below are deliberately broad candidate-stage QA screens based on reasoned estimates, not industry averages or publication defaults. They apply only to the stated process and normalization basis. Each range must be replaced before publication by representative foreground batches or reviewed transferable quantitative evidence; a value outside a provisional range is investigated and documented rather than automatically rejected.

Process: Receiving and preparation (receiving_preparation)

Inputs

Product flows

Accepted vegetable, pulse, or potato material (accepted_product_material)

Record the actual biological material crossing the facility gate, including its species, fresh or cured state, supplier, lot, and prior treatment. Do not assign the Cucumbers UUID to non-cucumber material.

• Selected flow: Facility-specific vegetable, pulse, or potato material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net accepted mass issued to receiving and preparation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg prepared material transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_receiving_preparation_records
• Sources: unsd-cpc-3-0-21340; codex-cxs-260-2007; codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional accepted-material QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.4
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg prepared material transferred; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Preparation water (preparation_water)

Record metered or batch-derived water entering washing, rinsing, soaking, or preparation and keep recycled internal water from being double counted.

• Selected flow: Process water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net make-up water entering the preparation boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg prepared material transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_receiving_preparation_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279; codex-cxs-260-2007
• Range: Provisional preparation-water QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 20
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg prepared material transferred; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Preparation energy (preparation_energy)

Record metered electricity and other energy services used for sorting, washing, trimming, cutting, pumping, and internal handling.

• Selected flow: Facility-specific electricity and energy carriers
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ by carrier
• Amount rule: Metered process energy or documented share of a submetered total
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg prepared material transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_receiving_preparation_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional preparation-energy QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per kg prepared material transferred; candidate screening only after converting carriers consistently
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Prepared product material (prepared_product_material)

Record the net mass of inspected, washed, trimmed, and cut material transferred to the selected preservation route.

• Selected flow: Prepared vegetable, pulse, or potato material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net transfer mass accepted by the preservation process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: process transfer mass
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_receiving_preparation_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-260-2007; codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional preparation-yield QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.2
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg accepted product material; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Preparation rejects and trimmings (preparation_rejects)

Record separately weighed rejected product, peel, stems, damaged units, and trimmings leaving the process, with destination and moisture condition.

• Selected flow: Product-specific organic preparation waste
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net waste mass leaving preparation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg prepared material transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_receiving_preparation_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional preparation-waste QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 3
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg prepared material transferred; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Preparation wastewater (preparation_wastewater)

Record wastewater discharged from washing, rinsing, soaking, and cleaning, net of internally reused water, with destination and treatment route.

• Selected flow: Preparation wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Metered discharge or documented water-balance result
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg prepared material transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_receiving_preparation_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional preparation-wastewater QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 20
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg prepared material transferred; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Direct acidulation and formulation (direct_acidulation)

Inputs

Product flows

Prepared material for direct acidulation (direct_route_prepared_material)

Use only prepared material assigned to the direct-acidulation route and preserve its product and lot identity.

• Selected flow: Prepared vegetable, pulse, or potato material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net prepared mass charged to the direct-acidulation lot
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_acidulation_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-260-2007; codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional direct-route material QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.2
  • Upper: 1.2
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Vinegar or acetic-acid medium (direct_route_acid_medium)

Record the actual vinegar or food-grade acetic-acid solution, concentration, supplier, and mass added; do not infer acid mass from final pH alone.

• Selected flow: Product-specific vinegar or food-grade acetic-acid solution
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net mass charged from batch formulation records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_acidulation_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-260-2007; codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional acid-medium QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 2
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred; candidate screening only and concentration-specific
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Formulation water, salt, and other ingredients (direct_route_other_ingredients)

Record each formulation input individually in the foreground dataset even though this compact PCR card groups their collection rule. Preserve ingredient identity, concentration, and mass.

• Selected flow: Product-specific formulation water, salt, sweetener, herbs, spices, and permitted ingredients
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg for each ingredient
• Amount rule: Individual net ingredient mass from approved batch formulation and issue records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_acidulation_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-260-2007; codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional other-ingredient QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 3
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: sum per kg acidulated lot transferred; candidate screening only, while publication retains separate ingredient rows
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Direct-acidulation energy (direct_route_energy)

Record mixing, pumping, heating, cooling, holding, and other route-specific energy without including the later filling and stabilization stage.

• Selected flow: Facility-specific electricity and energy carriers
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ by carrier
• Amount rule: Metered route energy or documented share of submetered energy
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_acidulation_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional direct-route energy QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 3
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred; candidate screening only after consistent carrier conversion
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Directly acidulated lot (direct_acidulated_lot)

Record the total product-and-medium mass transferred to filling and retain formulation, time, temperature, and equilibrium-pH links.

• Selected flow: Directly acidulated vegetable, pulse, or potato lot
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net transfer mass to filling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: process transfer mass
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_acidulation_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-260-2007; codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional direct-route transfer QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.5
  • Upper: 1.5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg total measured process inputs; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Direct-route effluent and off-specification product (direct_route_waste)

Record off-specification mixture and discharged acid or brine separately in the foreground dataset, with treatment or recovery destination.

• Selected flow: Product-specific off-specification mixture and process effluent
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg for each waste stream
• Amount rule: Measured or mass-balance-verified waste mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg acidulated lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_acidulation_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional direct-route waste QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: sum per kg acidulated lot transferred; candidate screening only, while publication retains separate waste rows
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Curing or fermentation and acid adjustment (curing_fermentation_acid_adjustment)

Inputs

Product flows

Prepared material for curing or fermentation (cured_route_prepared_material)

Use only material assigned to the cured or fermented route. If curing occurred at a supplier, receive the cured input in receiving_preparation and link the supplier operation upstream instead of repeating it here.

• Selected flow: Prepared vegetable, pulse, or potato material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net prepared mass charged to the foreground curing or fermentation lot
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cured_route_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional cured-route material QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.2
  • Upper: 2
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Curing brine, salt, and process water (curing_brine_inputs)

Record make-up water, salt, reused brine, and other curing-medium inputs separately, with concentration and reuse cycle documented.

• Selected flow: Product-specific curing brine, salt, and water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg for each input
• Amount rule: Individual net charge from batch and tank records, excluding internal recirculation from repeated input counting
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cured_route_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional curing-medium QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 10
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: sum per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred; candidate screening only, while publication retains separate input rows
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Acid-adjustment medium and formulation ingredients (cured_route_acid_and_ingredients)

Record vinegar or food-grade acetic-acid solution and each ingredient added after or during curing, including concentration and actual mass.

• Selected flow: Product-specific vinegar or acetic-acid medium and formulation ingredients
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg for each input
• Amount rule: Individual net mass from approved formulation and issue records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cured_route_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-115-1981; codex-cxs-260-2007
• Range: Provisional cured-route acid-and-ingredient QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 3
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: sum per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred; candidate screening only, while publication retains separate input rows
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Curing and fermentation energy (cured_route_energy)

Record pumping, agitation, temperature control, refrigeration, heating, and holding energy attributable to the foreground curing or fermentation tanks and acid adjustment.

• Selected flow: Facility-specific electricity and energy carriers
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ by carrier
• Amount rule: Metered route energy or documented share based on equipment use and holding time
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cured_route_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional cured-route energy QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred; candidate screening only after consistent carrier conversion
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Cured and acid-adjusted lot (cured_acid_adjusted_lot)

Record the total product-and-medium mass transferred to filling and retain links to tank, fermentation or curing duration, formulation, and equilibrium-pH records.

• Selected flow: Cured and acid-adjusted vegetable, pulse, or potato lot
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net transfer mass to filling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: process transfer mass
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cured_route_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-115-1981; codex-cxs-260-2007
• Range: Provisional cured-route transfer QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.5
  • Upper: 1.5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg total measured process inputs; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Spent brine, wastewater, and off-specification product (cured_route_waste)

Record spent brine, wash or desalting wastewater, tank residues, and off-specification product as separate streams in the foreground dataset, with recovery or treatment destination.

• Selected flow: Product-specific spent brine, wastewater, residues, and off-specification product
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg for each waste stream
• Amount rule: Measured or mass-balance-verified waste mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cured_route_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional cured-route waste QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 15
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: sum per kg cured and acid-adjusted lot transferred; candidate screening only, while publication retains separate waste rows
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Filling, sealing, and stabilization (filling_sealing_stabilization)

Inputs

Product flows

Acid-preserved lot from selected route (preserved_lot_to_filling)

Receive output from exactly one route for each product lot and preserve the route identifier through filling and release.

• Selected flow: Directly acidulated or cured and acid-adjusted product lot
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net product-and-medium mass issued to filling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg final net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_filling_stabilization_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-260-2007; codex-cxs-115-1981
• Range: Provisional filling-yield QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 2
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg final net product; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Packaging materials (packaging_materials)

Record primary container, closure, seal, label, and attributable secondary and tertiary packaging separately by material and mass.

• Selected flow: Facility-specific packaging components by material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Issued packaging less verified returns, divided by conforming net product mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg final net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_filling_stabilization_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional packaging-mass QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 2
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg final net product; candidate screening only and package-format specific
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Filling and stabilization energy (filling_stabilization_energy)

Record filling, closing, pasteurization or other stabilization, cooling, refrigeration, conveyors, and line-support energy by carrier.

• Selected flow: Facility-specific electricity and energy carriers
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ by carrier
• Amount rule: Metered line energy or documented share of submetered equipment energy
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg final net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_filling_stabilization_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional filling-and-stabilization energy QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per kg final net product; candidate screening only after consistent carrier conversion
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Filling and cleaning water (filling_cleaning_water)

Record make-up water used for package rinsing, stabilization, cooling, and cleaning, net of documented internal recirculation.

• Selected flow: Process water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Metered or water-balance-derived make-up water
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg final net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_filling_stabilization_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional filling-and-cleaning water QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 15
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg final net product; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Final preserved product (final_preserved_product)

This is the quantitative reference. The net edible mass includes sold packing medium and excludes packaging.

• Selected flow: Cucumbers 54b947e7-ab56-45c8-8210-9c91b85eb845
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: exactly 1 kg reference product after batch normalization
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Not applicable (not_applicable)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Exact normalized reference amount
  • Range role: Allowed range (allowed_range)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
  • Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279

Waste flows

Packaging scrap and rejected packages (packaging_scrap)

Record broken containers, closure and seal losses, label and film scrap, and rejected filled packages separately by material and destination.

• Selected flow: Packaging scrap by material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured packaging waste leaving the line
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg final net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_filling_stabilization_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional packaging-scrap QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg final net product; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Product loss and off-specification packages (filling_product_loss)

Record spilled product, start-up and shutdown losses, samples not returned, and off-specification packages by recovery or treatment route.

• Selected flow: Product-specific filling and stabilization waste
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Net measured product waste leaving the line
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg final net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_filling_stabilization_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional product-loss QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg final net product; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Filling and cleaning wastewater (filling_wastewater)

Record package-rinse, cooling, and cleaning wastewater leaving the process, net of recirculated water, with treatment destination.

• Selected flow: Filling and cleaning wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Metered discharge or documented water-balance result
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg final net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_filling_stabilization_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021-2279
• Range: Provisional filling-wastewater QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 15
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per kg final net product; candidate screening only
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_avoid	Multi-output or shared operations	Avoid allocation where possible by subdividing route-, line-, or product-specific records or by expanding the system when a justified substituted function is demonstrated.	eu-pef-2021-2279
allocation_route_separation	Direct and cured/fermented routes	Treat the two preservation routes as mutually exclusive at lot level. For a reporting period containing both, normalize each route separately and aggregate using measured conforming product mass; do not charge both route inventories to every kilogram.	eu-pef-2021-2279; codex-cxs-115-1981
allocation_residual	Inseparable co-products and shared utilities	After subdivision and system expansion are demonstrably impracticable, use an underlying physical relationship when one can be established. Otherwise use a documented economic relationship with consistent prices and reference period, and report the method, factor, affected flows, and sensitivity. Waste treatment receives burdens and credits only according to the selected life-cycle method and documented destination.	eu-pef-2021-2279

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_receiving_preparation_records	receiving_preparation	All received material, preparation water and energy, prepared output, rejects, and wastewater	Lot, scale, meter, issue, transfer, and waste records	product identity; supplier and lot; fresh or cured state; gross, tare, and net mass; water meter; energy meter and carrier; prepared transfer mass; reject mass; wastewater volume or mass; destination; timestamps	Reconcile calibrated scale tickets, batch sheets, utility meters, and waste manifests to the same lot or declared allocation period	kg; m3 with measured density conversion; kWh; MJ	Each lot for materials and outputs; meter interval aligned to production	Declared representative production period covering normal product and operating variation	All facilities and lines included in the dataset	Sum lot records by product and route, subtract documented returns and internal reuse, then normalize through calc_reference_normalization	Scale and meter calibration; signed batch record; supplier specification; reconciliation and exception log
cp_direct_acidulation_records	direct_acidulation	Prepared material, acid medium, every formulation ingredient, energy, transfer output, pH, and waste	Lot formulation, issue, meter, transfer, laboratory, and waste records	route id; product lot; ingredient id and concentration; individual charge mass; energy by carrier; transfer mass; equilibrium pH, sample phase and time; waste stream and destination	Link approved formulation and actual issues to calibrated masses, submetered utilities, transfer records, and lot test results	kg; kWh; MJ; pH units	Each lot; continuous or interval utility data allocated to documented equipment operation	Declared representative period for the direct route	All direct-acidulation lines in scope	Keep ingredient rows separate, reconcile input and output mass, and normalize only direct-route output	Approved formulation; calibration; laboratory method and calibration; batch release; mass-balance review
cp_cured_route_records	curing_fermentation_acid_adjustment	Prepared material, brine and salt, acid and ingredients, energy, tank output, duration, pH, spent brine, wastewater, and product waste	Lot, tank, formulation, issue, meter, laboratory, transfer, and waste records	route id; product lot; tank id; charge and discharge mass; brine concentration and reuse; ingredient concentration and mass; start and end time; temperature; energy by carrier; equilibrium pH; each waste stream and destination	Reconcile tank logs, approved formulation, actual issues, calibrated masses, meters, laboratory results, and waste records	kg; h; degrees C; kWh; MJ; pH units	Each lot or tank; interval utilities aligned to occupied tank time	Declared representative period for the cured or fermented route	All curing or fermentation tanks and acid-adjustment lines in scope	Exclude internal brine recirculation from repeated inputs, keep waste streams separate, reconcile mass, and normalize route output	Tank and batch record; calibration; laboratory method and calibration; release record; mass-balance and reuse log
cp_filling_stabilization_records	filling_sealing_stabilization	Preserved lot, packaging, water, energy, finished product, package scrap, product loss, wastewater, pH, and stabilization conditions	Lot, package bill, issue, meter, process-control, release, waste, and laboratory records	source route and lot; product-and-medium mass; package component and issue mass; conforming unit count; net mass; drained mass where applicable; time and temperature or other stabilization parameter; water and energy; equilibrium pH; each waste mass and destination	Link route transfer to package issues, calibrated checkweigher or scale, process controls, utility meters, waste records, and release tests	kg; count; kWh; MJ; degrees C and time; pH units	Each lot; utility and process-control intervals aligned to the filling campaign	Declared representative period covering package and stabilization variants	All filling and stabilization lines in scope	Calculate conforming net product mass, separate packaging mass, reconcile product and package losses, and normalize to 1 kg	Package specification; scale and meter calibration; process-control record; release record; laboratory evidence; reconciliation log

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	Every inventory amount	q_normalized = q_attributable / conforming_net_product_mass_kg; report q_normalized per 1 kg reference product. Keep packaging mass outside the denominator and edible sold packing medium inside it.	attributable flow amount; conforming net product mass; package tare	normalized amount per 1 kg reference product	eu-pef-2021-2279
calc_route_exclusivity	Preservation-route inventories	Assign each lot to exactly one route id. Aggregate route results only as sum(route-normalized amount × route conforming product mass) / total conforming product mass.	lot route id; route-specific flow totals; route-specific conforming product mass	reporting-period route-weighted inventory	codex-cxs-115-1981; codex-cxs-260-2007; eu-pef-2021-2279
calc_mass_reconciliation	Each process and production lot	mass_balance_gap = total measured mass inputs − total measured product, waste, recovered material, retained inventory change, and measured discharges. Investigate and disclose material gaps; do not create an elementary emission solely to force closure.	input masses; product and waste masses; inventory change; discharge masses	process mass-balance gap and reconciliation status	eu-pef-2021-2279
calc_shared_utility	Shared metered utilities	Allocate only after attempted subdivision. Use measured equipment consumption or a causal driver such as operating time and rated load; document the driver and reconcile allocated shares to the meter total.	meter total; equipment measurement or causal driver; production records	attributable utility amount by process and route	eu-pef-2021-2279

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	Reference product and all product flows	Preserve biological product identity, preservation route, starting condition, presentation, and packing medium. The Cucumbers UUID is acceptable only for cucumber datasets; another vegetable, pulse, or potato requires a semantically appropriate flow before publication.	Product specification, label, supplier record, batch record, and product-flow review
dq_primary_records	Foreground facility processes	Use facility-specific records for all known material, water, energy, product, waste, and direct-emission flows. Document proxies and the reason direct records were unavailable.	Records required by the four collection protocols and eu-pef-2021-2279
dq_representativeness	Dataset reference period	Select and disclose a period that represents the declared product, route, technology, geography, package format, and normal operating variation; disclose abnormal campaigns and excluded downtime.	Production schedule, route and product mix, facility scope, reference-period rationale, and PEF representativeness assessment
dq_completeness	Inventory and linked datasets	Reconcile known inputs and outputs, link upstream datasets for purchased inputs and waste treatment, and disclose cut-offs, data gaps, allocation, and mass-balance gaps.	Mass and utility reconciliation, source list, exclusion register, and eu-pef-2021-2279
dq_provisional_ranges	All reasoned_estimate ranges	Treat ranges as temporary QA screens only. Before publication replace them with ranges from representative foreground batches or reviewed transferable evidence, record applicability, and revise the PCR when evidence materially changes a guardrail.	Range replacement register, representative batch summary or reviewed source, approval record, and update log
dq_test_and_calibration	Mass, pH, temperature, time, concentration, and utility measurements	Retain instrument identity, method, calibration or verification status, sample timing, sampled phase, and corrective action for failed checks.	Calibration certificates, laboratory method, quality-control results, process-control logs, and batch release record

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
val_identity_and_flow	Reference product	Verify the declared product is within the semantic category and that Cucumbers 54b947e7-ab56-45c8-8210-9c91b85eb845 is used only for cucumber datasets. Fail publication of another vegetable, pulse, or potato until a semantically appropriate product flow is selected.	unsd-cpc-3-0-21340; codex-cxs-115-1981; codex-cxs-260-2007
val_route_exclusive	Process map and each lot	Verify exactly one preservation route is active for each lot, that route-specific inputs and wastes remain in that route, and that any period aggregation uses measured conforming product mass shares.	codex-cxs-115-1981; codex-cxs-260-2007
val_reference_mass	Quantitative reference	Verify the denominator is exactly 1 kg net edible product including sold packing medium and excluding packaging; check tare removal and lot normalization.	eu-pef-2021-2279; codex-cxs-260-2007
val_equilibrium_ph	Released acid-preserved product	Verify a calibrated, lot-linked equilibrium-pH result of 4.6 or less for products modelled under the cited Codex product definitions, together with sample phase, timing, method, and release decision.	codex-cxs-115-1981; codex-cxs-260-2007
val_foreground_completeness	All four foreground processes	Verify all known material, water, energy, product, waste, packaging, wastewater, and direct-emission records are represented or explicitly justified as absent; verify linked upstream datasets and waste destinations.	eu-pef-2021-2279
val_mass_and_utility_reconciliation	Each process and reporting period	Verify process mass-balance gaps are investigated and shared utilities reconcile to meters without double counting or arbitrary closure flows.	eu-pef-2021-2279
val_provisional_range_replacement	Candidate quantitative guidance	Fail publication while any reasoned_estimate range is being used as a default amount or lacks a documented replacement assessment based on representative batches or reviewed evidence. Values outside a provisional QA range require investigation and disclosure, not automatic substitution.	eu-pef-2021-2279
val_allocation_and_exclusions	Allocation, cut-offs, and reporting	Verify subdivision was attempted, the chosen residual allocation is documented and reproducible, packaging is included, exclusions are justified, and limitations prevent unsupported comparison or comparative assertion.	eu-pef-2021-2279

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Facility-specific foreground data package and factory-gate product dataset for the declared acid-preserved vegetable, pulse, or potato
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset after methodology review and publication
allowed_use	Product-specific process and lifecycle-model construction for the declared species, route, formulation, geography, period, package, and stabilization technology; aggregation across routes only by the prescribed rule
excluded_use	Non-cucumber modelling with the Cucumbers UUID; unqualified generic modelling of all CPC 21340 products; direct comparison or comparative assertion without aligned function, product flow, route, system boundary, data quality, and review
required_metadata	Product species and common name; selected product-flow UUID; CPC context; cucumber/non-cucumber status; route; fresh or cured starting condition; presentation; packing medium and formulation; pH method and result; net and drained mass basis; package components; stabilization method; facility geography; technology; reference period; allocation; cut-offs; upstream dataset choices
required_quality_disclosure	Foreground coverage; route and product representativeness; calibration and release evidence; mass and utility reconciliation; shared-service allocation; waste and wastewater destinations; proxy and data-gap register; provisional-range replacement status; limitations of the narrower cucumber representative
update_trigger	A change in product-flow semantics or UUID; modelling of another vegetable, pulse, or potato; material formulation, route, stabilization, package, technology, geography, or supplier change; revised CPC, Codex, or PEF source; representative batch evidence that replaces or materially changes a provisional range; review finding affecting boundary, allocation, or validation

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
unsd-cpc-3-0-21340	Official guidance (official_guidance)	United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification Version 3.0, subclass 21340, “Vegetables, pulses and potatoes, preserved by vinegar or acetic acid,” official structure file: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Product-category title and classification context; not quantitative process evidence
codex-cxs-260-2007	Standard (standard)	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, CXS 260-2007, Standard for Pickled Fruits and Vegetables, amended 2023: https://workspace.fao.org/sites/codex/Standards/CXS%20260-2007/CXS_260e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Broad product definition, process decomposition, acidified packing medium, equilibrium pH, quality, filling, labelling, and hygiene context; excludes pickled cucumbers from its own scope
codex-cxs-115-1981	Standard (standard)	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, CXS 115-1981, Standard for Pickled Cucumbers (Cucumber Pickles), amended 2025: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd8998en (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Cucumber-specific fresh-pack and cured/fermented routes, acidulation, equilibrium pH, ingredients, product quality, fill, and the narrower representative-product boundary
eu-pef-2021-2279	Official guidance (official_guidance)	European Commission, Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 of 15 December 2021 on the use of the Environmental Footprint methods, Annex I Product Environmental Footprint Method, consolidated text: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2279/2021-12-30/eng (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Functional-unit and reference-flow logic, life-cycle and foreground boundary, company-specific inventory, allocation hierarchy, exclusions, data quality, documentation, and validation