§ 52.751 Ascertaining the grade with respect to U.S. Combination grade.

(a) The combination grade of sulfured cherries is ascertained by considering color, absence of defects, character, and the cleanliness of the product.

(b) The definition for cleanliness and the terms defined with respect to ascertaining “U. S. Grade A" or "U. S. Fancy" and "U. S. Grade B" or "U. S. Choice" outlined under the factors of color, absence of defects and character for these grades are also applicable for ascertaining the U. S. Combination grade.

LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES

§ 52.752

Tolerances for certification of officially drawn samples for U.S. Combination grade of sulfured cherries.

(a) When certifying samples that have been officially drawn and which represent a specific lot of sulfured cherries, the precent, by weight, of cherries which possess at least a reasonably good color and a reasonably good character, and are free from misshapen cherries, cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury, and seriously blemished cherries is computed by averaging the percent, by weight, of such cherries in all samples of the lot if:

(1) None of the samples in the lot contain less than 80 percent, by weight of such cherries.

(b) The percent, by weight, of cherries for the lot which possess a good color and a good character, and are free from blemished cherries or seriously blemished cherries, misshapen cherries and cherries damaged by mechanical injury or cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury, is computed by averaging the percent, by weight, of such cherries in all samples of the lot if:

(1) None of the samples in the lot contains less than 35 percent, by weight, of such cherries.

§ 52.753 Ascertaining the grade of a lot.

The grade of a lot of the processed product covered by these standards is determined by the procedures set forth in the regulations governing inspection and certification of processed fruits and vegetables, processed products thereof, and certain other processed food products (§§ 52.1 to 52.87).

[22 F. R. 3547, May 22, 1957]

IDENTITY AND GRADES

§ 52.771 Identity.

"Canned red tart pitted cherries" means the canned product prepared from mature pitted cherries of the red sour varietal group (Prunus cerasus), as such product is defined in the standard of identity for canned cherries (21 CFR 27.30), issued pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

§ 52.772 Grades of canned red tart pitted cherries.

(a) "U.S. Grade A" (or "U.S. Fancy") is the quality of canned red tart pitted cherries that (1) possess a good color; (2) are practically free from pits; (3) are practically free from defects; (4) have a good character; (5) possess a normal flavor; and (6) score not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart. Canned cherries of this grade may contain not more than 5 percent, by count, of cherries that are less than 16 inch in diameter.

(b) "U.S. Grade C" (or "U.S. Standard") is the quality of canned red tart pitted cherries that (1) possess a fairly good color; (2) are fairly free from pits; (3) are fairly free from defects; (4) have a fairly good character; (5) possess a normal flavor; and (6) score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart. There is no size requirement for canned red tart pitted cherries of this grade.

(c) "Substandard" is the quality of canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet any requirement of "U.S. Grade C."

LIQUID MEDIA, FILL OF CONTAINER, AND DRAINED WEIGHTS

§ 52.773 Designations of liquid media and Brix measurements.

"Cut-out" requirements for packing media are not incorporated in the grades of the finished product since sirup or any other packing medium, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. Canned red tart pitted cherries are packed in the optional packing media referred to in the aforesaid standard of identity for canned cherries and such packing media include, but are not limited to, the following, which have

"Slightly sweetened water". Less than 18°. "Water" (water or any mixture of water and cherry juice).

§ 52.774 Recommended fill of container.

The recommended fill of container is not incorporated in the grades of the finished product since fill of container, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. It is recommended that each container of canned red tart pitted cherries be filled as full as practicable without impairment of quality and that the product and packing medium occupy not less than 90 percent of the total capacity of the container.

§ 52.775

Recommended drained weight.

The drained weight recommendations in Table No. I of this subpart are not incorporated in the grades of the finished product since drained weight, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. The drained weight of canned red tart pitted cherries is determined by emptying the contents of the container upon a circular sieve of proper diameter containing 8 meshes to the inch (0.097-inch square openings) and allowing to drain for two minutes. A sieve 8 inches in diameter is used for No. 3 size cans (404 x 414) and smaller, and a sieve 12 inches in diameter is used for containers larger than the No. 3 size can.

TABLE NO. I-RECOMMENDED DRAINED WEIGHTS

FACTORS OF QUALITY

§ 52.776 Ascertaining the grade of a sample unit.

(a) General. The grade of a sample unit of canned red tart pitted cherries is ascertained by considering the flavor of the product and the requirement for size (in U.S. Grade A) which is not scored; the ratings for the factors of color, freedom from pits, freedom from defects, and character which are scored; the total score; and the limiting rules which may be applicable.

(b) Factors rated by score points. The relative importance of each factor is expressed numerically on the scale of 100. The maximum number of points that may be given each factor is:

(c) Definition of normal flavor. "Normal flavor" means that the flavor is characteristic of canned red tart pitted cherries and that the product is free from objectionable flavors of any kind. § 52.777 Ascertaining the rating for each factor which is scored.

The essential variations within each factor are so described that the value may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. The numerical range for the rating of each factor is inclusive (for example, “18 to 20 points” means 18, 19, or 20 points).

(a) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that possess a good color may be given a score of 18 to 20 points. "Good color" means a practically uniform color that is bright and typical of canned red tart pitted cherries which have been properly prepared and properly processed from properly ripened cherries.

(b) (C) classification. If the canned red tart pitted cherries possess a fairly good color a score of 16 or 17 points may be given. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Fairly good color" means a fairly uniform color, typical of canned red tart

pitted cherries which have been properly prepared and properly processed and which color may range from a brownish cast to mottled shades of brown.

(c) (SStd.) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 15 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). § 52.779 Freedom from pits.

(a) General. The factor of freedom from pits concerns the degree of freedom from pits and pit fragments.

(b) Definitions. (1) A "pit," for the purposes of the allowances in this section, is a whole cherry pit or portions of pits computed as follows:

(1) A single piece of pit shell, whether or not within or attached to a whole cherry, that is larger than one-half pit shell is considered as one pit;

(ii) A single piece of pit shell, whether or not within or attached to a whole cherry, that is not larger than one-half pit shell is considered as one-half pit;

(iii) Pieces of pit shell, within or attached to a whole cherry, when their combined size is larger than one-half pit shell are considered as one pit; and

(iv) Pieces of pit shell, within or attached to a whole cherry, when their combined size is not larger than one-half pit shell are considered as one-half pit.

(2) "Drained cherries" means pitted cherries that have been drained of packing medium by the method prescribed in this subpart.

(c) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that are practically free from pits may be given a score of 18 to 20 points. "Practically free from pits" means that the number of pits that may be present in the drained cherries does not exceed the allowances for this classification as set forth in Table No. II of this subpart.

If the canned

(d) (C) classification. red tart pitted cherries are fairly free from pits a score of 16 or 17 points may be given. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). Canned red tart pitted cherries are "fairly free from pits" if the number of pits (as defined) does not exceed the allowances for this classification as set forth in Table II of this subpart.

1 Sample units falling into this classification for this reason may be considered as "deviants" with respect to Grade A and allowed in accordance with section 52.782, ascertaining the grade of a lot.

§ 52.780 Freedom from defects.

(a) General. The factor of freedom of defects refers to the degree of freedom from harmless extraneous material, mutilated cherries, and cherries blemished by scab, hail injury, discoloration, scar tissue, or by other means.

(1) "Cherry" means a whole cherry, whether or not pitted, or portions of such cherries which in the aggregate approximate the average size of the cherries.

(2) "Harmless extraneous material" means any vegetable substance (including, but not being limited to, a leaf or a stem, and any portions thereof) that is harmless.

(3) "Mutilated cherry" means a cherry that is so pitter-torn or damaged by other means that the entire pit cavity is exposed and the appearance of the cherry is seriously affected.

(4) "Blemished cherry" means any cherry the skin of which is blemished to the extent that the aggregate blemished area materially affects the appearance of the cherry. The term "blemished cherry" also means any cherry the flesh of which is materially discolored.

(5) "Seriously blemished" means any cherry blemished to the extent that the appearance or eating quality is seriously affected.

(b) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that are practically

free from defects may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. "Practically free from defects" means that there may be present (1) not more than 1 piece of harmless extraneous material for each 60 ounces of net contents; (2) not more than a total of 10 percent, by count, of the cherries are mutilated cherries, blemished cherries, and seriously blemished cherries; and (3) not more than 4 percent, by count, of all the cherries are seriously blemished.

(c) (C) classification. If the canned red tart pitted cherries are fairly free from defects, a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Fairly free from defects" means that there may be present (1) not more than 1 piece of harmless extraneous material for each 20 ounces of net contents; and (2) not more than a total of 20 percent, by count, of cherries that are mutilated, blemished, and seriously blemished cherries of which not more than 15 percent, by count, of all cherries are blemished and/or seriously blemished.

(d) (SStd.) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section for any reason may be given a score of 0 to 23 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 52.781 Character.

(a) General. The factor of character refers to the degree of ripeness and the physical characteristics of the flesh of the cherries.

(b) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that have a good character may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. "Good character" means a firm, fleshy texture, typical of canned red tart pitted cherries which have been properly prepared and properly processed from properly ripened cherries.

(c) (C) classification. If the canned red tart pitted cherries have a fairly good character, a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Fairly good character" means a fairly firm or

(a) "U.S. Grade A" (or "U.S. Fancy") is the quality of frozen red tart pitted cherries that (1) possess a good red color; (2) are practically free from pits; (3) are practically free from defects; (4) have a good character; (5) possess a normal flavor; and (6) score not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart. Pitted cherries of this grade may contain not more than 5 percent, by count, of cherries that are less than 16 inch in diameter.

(b) "U.S. Grade C" (or "U.S. Standard") is the quality of frozen red tart pitted cherries that (1) possess a reasonably good red color; (2) are fairly free from pits; (3) are fairly free from defects; (4) have a fairly good character; (5) possess a normal flavor; and (6) score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart. There is no size requirement for cherries of this grade.

(c) "Substandard" is the quality of frozen red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.

FACTORS OF QUALITY

§ 52.803 Ascertaining the grade of a sample unit.

(a) The grade of frozen red tart pitted cherries is determined immediately after thawing to the extent that the cherries may be separated easily and the cherries are free from ice and solidified packing media. The grade is determined by considering in addition to the requirements of the respective grade (including the requirement for size in U.S. Grade A) the respective ratings of the factors of color, pits, absence of defects, the total score, and the limiting rules which may be applicable.