The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America

cally uniform in size and shape, with cross sections measuring not more than 16 inch, and the aggregate weight of all strips less than 11⁄2 inches in length does not exceed 25 percent of the weight of all the strips.

(f) Cut. The individual units weigh not less than 4 ounce nor more than 2 ounces each and the largest unit weighs not more than four times the weight of the smallest unit. An occasional unit which is not representative of the general size of all the units is excluded in determining size variation.

(ii) If the canned beets are fairly uniform in size and shape, a score of 8 to 11 points may be given. "Fairly uniform in size and shape" has the following meanings with respect to the various styles of canned beets:

(a) Whole beets. The size of the individual beet is not more than 22 inches in diameter, measured as aforesaid; the beet may vary considerably in shape, and the diameter of the largest beet is not more than twice the diameter of the smallest beet.

(b) Quartered beets. The beets from which the quarters have been cut were of a size not more than 31⁄2 inches in diameter, measured as aforesaid, and the weight of the largest quarter is not more than twice the weight of the smallest quarter.

(c) Sliced beets. The individual slice is not more than 3% inch in thickness when measured at the thickest portion; the size of each slice is not more than 32 inches in diameter, measured as aforesaid; and the diameter of the largest slice is not more than twice the diamter of the smallest slice.

(d) Diced beets. The units are fairly uniform in size and shape, with edges measuring not more than 1⁄2 inch; and the aggregate weight of all units which are smaller than one-half of a cube and all large and irregular units does not exceed 25 percent of the weight of all units.

(e) Julienne, French style, or shoestring. The strips of beets are fairly uniform in size and shape, with cross sections measuring not more than 16 inch and the aggregate weight of all strips less than 11⁄2 inches in length does not exceed 40 percent of the weight of all the strips.

(f) Cut. The individual units weigh not less than 1⁄2 ounce nor more than 3 ounces each and the largest unit weighs not more than twelve times the weight of the smallest unit. An occasional unit which is not representative of the general size of all the units is excluded in determining size variation.

(iii) Canned beets that fail to meet the requirements of subdivision (ii) of this subparagraph may be given a score of 0 to 7 points and shall not be graded above U. S. Grade C or U. S. Standard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

(3) Absence of defects. (i) The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from defective units. Defective units are slabs, units damaged by mechanical injury, units blemished by brown or black internal or external discoloration, pathological injury or insect injury and units blemished by other

means.

(a) "Slab" means any portion of a whole beet obtained in slicing possessing only one cut surface or cut surfaces of unequal areas varying in diameter more than 1⁄2 inch.

(b) "Damaged by mechanical injury” means crushed, broken, or cracked units, units with excessively frayed edges and surfaces, units with unpeeled areas, excessively trimmed units, or damaged by other means.

(c) "Blemished" means any blemish affecting an aggregate area greater than the area of a circle 16 inch in diameter or any blemish which seriously affects the appearance or eating quality of the unit.

(ii) Canned peets that are practically free from defects may be given a score of 26 to 30 points. "Practically free from defects" has the following meanings with respect to the various styles of canned beets:

(a) Whole beets. The aggregate weight of all defective units does not exceed 15 percent of the weight of all the units, and of such 15 percent not more than one-half thereof or one beet, whichever weighs more, may consist of blemished units.

(b) Sliced, quartered, and cut beets. The aggregate weight of all blemished units and units damaged by mechanical injury does not exceed 15 percent of the

weight of all the units, and of such 15 percent not more than one-half thereof or one slice, quarter or cut, whichever weighs more, may consist of blemished units, and with respect to sliced beets not more than 10 percent of the weight of all the units may consist of units that are slabs.

(c) Diced, Julienne, French style, or shoestring beets. The aggregate weight of all defective units does not exceed 10 percent of the weight of all the units, and of such 10 percent not more than one-half thereof may consist of blemished units.

(iii) Canned beets that are fairly free from defects may be given a score of 22 to 25 points. Canned beets that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U. S. Grade C or U. S. Standard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Fairly free from defects" has the following meanings with respect to the various styles of canned beets:

(a) Whole beets. The aggregate weight of all defective units does not exceed 30 percent of the weight of all the units, and of such 30 percent not more than one-half may consist of blemished units.

(b) Sliced, quartered, and cut beets. The aggregate weight of all blemished units and units damaged by mechanical injury does not exceed 30 percent of the weight of all the units, and of such 30 percent not more than one-half thereof may consist of blemished units, and with respect to sliced beets not more than 25 percent of the weight of all the units may consist of units that are slabs.

(c) Diced, Julienne, French style, or shoestring beets. The aggregate weight of all defective units does not exceed 25 percent of the weight of all the units, and of such 25 percent not more than one-half thereof may consist of blemished units.

(iv) Canned beets that fail to meet the requirements of subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph may be given a score of 0 to 21 points and shall not be graded above U. S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

(4) Texture. (i) The factor of texture refers to the tenderness of the beets,

and the degree of freedom from stringy or coarse fibers.

(ii) Canned beets that possess a tender texture may be given a score of 26 to 30 points. "Tender texture" means that the beets are tender, not fibrous, and possess a uniform character.

(iii) If the canned beets possess a fairly tender texture, a score of 22 to 25 points may be given. Canned beets that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U. S. Grade C or U. S. Standard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Fairly tender texture" means that the beets are fairly tender, may be variable in character but not tough or hard, and may possess a few stringy or coarse fibers.

(i) Tolerance for certification of officially drawn samples. (1) When certifying samples that have been officially drawn and which represent a specific lot of canned beets, the grade for such lot will be determined by averaging the total scores of all containers, if:

(i) Not more than one-sixth of the containers comprising the sample fails to meet all the requirements of the grade indicated by the average of such total scores, and with respect to such containers which fail to meet the requirements of the indicated grade by reason of a limiting rule, the average score of all containers in the sample for the factor, subject to such limiting rule, must be within the range for the grade indicated;

(ii) None of the containers comprising the sample falls more thar. 4 points below the minimum score for the grade indicated by the average of the total scores; and

(iii) All containers comprising the sample meet all applicable standards of quality promulgated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and in effect at the time of the aforesaid certification.

(j) Score sheet for canned beets. The following score sheet may be used to summarize the factors determining the various grades:

Indicates limiting rule within classification. (Pub. Law 266, 80th Cong.) [13 F. R. 3068, 3251]

§ 52.293 Dates-(a) Identity. Dates are the properly cured fresh fruit of the date tree (Phoenix dactylifera).

(b) Styles of dates. (1) "Whole unpitted dates" or "whole dates" means whole dates from which the pits have not been removed and which may or may not be slit longitudinally.

(2) "Whole pitted dates" or "pitted dates" means whole dates from which the pits have been removed.

(3) "Cut dates" means pitted dates cut into pieces not less than 1⁄2 inch in any dimension.

(4) "Macerated dates" means dates that are ground, chopped, mashed, or broken, or that are cut or sliced into small pieces less than 1⁄2 inch in any dimension.

(d) Count. Federal inspection certificates will indicate the number of whole unpitted dates or whole pitted dates per pound.

(e) Grades for dates. (1) "U. S. Grade A" or "U. S. Fancy" is the quality of whole dates or whole pitted dates of one variety that are well matured, well developed, plump, and well fleshed; are practically uniform in size; are practically uniform in color; and may possess defects within the following limits:

(i) Not more than a total tolerance of 10 percent by weight may be damaged by discoloration, broken skin, checking, deformity, puffiness, scars, sunburn, side spot, insect injury, semi-dry calyx end, dry calyx end, lack of pollination, improper ripening, improper curing or improper hydrating, mashing, blacknose, black scald, or mechanical injury; or may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material: Provided, That,

(a) Not more than three-fifths of the total tolerance, or 6 percent by weight, may be damaged by side spot or by black scald; or may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material;

(b) Not more than two-fifths of the total tolerance, or 4 percent by weight, may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material; and

(2) "U. S. Grade B" or "U. S. Choice" is the quality of whole dates or whole pitted dates of one variety that are reasonably well matured, reasonably well developed, reasonably plump, and reasonably well fleshed; are reasonably uniform in size; are reasonably uniform in color; and may possess defects within the following limits:

(i) Not more than a total tolerance of 15 percent by weight may be damaged by deformity, puffiness, scars, sunburn, side spot, insect injury, semidry calyx end, dry calyx end, lack of pollination, improper ripening, improper curing or improper hydrating, mashing, blacknose, black scald, or mechanical injury; or may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material: Provided, That,

(a) Not more than eight-fifteenths of the total tolerance, or 8 percent by weight, may be damaged by side spot or by black scald; or may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material;

(b) Not more than one-third of the total tolerance, or 5 percent by weight, may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects per

mitted), dirt or other foreign material; and

(3) "U. S. Grade C" or "U. S. Standard" is the quality of whole dates or whole pitted dates of one variety; are fairly well matured, fairly well developed, fairly plump, and fairly well fleshed; are fairly uniform in size; fairly uniform in color; and may possess defects within the following limits:

(i) Not more than a total tolerance of 20 percent, by weight, may be damaged by deformity, puffiness, scars, sunburn, side spot, insect injury, dry calyx end, lack of pollination, improper ripening, improper curing or improper hydrating, mashing, blacknose, black scald, or mechanical injury; or may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material: Provided, That,

(a) Not more than one-half of the total tolerance, or 10 percent by weight, may be damaged by side spot or by black scald; or may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material;

(b) Not more than one-fourth of the total tolerance, or 5 percent by weight, may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects permitted), dirt or other foreign material; and

(4) "U. S. Grade D" or "Substandard", when applied to whole dates or whole pitted dates, is the quality of such dates that are wholesome and edible but fail to meet the requirements of U. S. Grade C or U. S. Standard; and, when applied to cut dates or macerated dates, is the quality of such cut or macerated dates that are wholesome and edible, Provided, That the particular style of dates may possess defects within the following limits:

(i) Not more than a total tolerance of 5 percent, by weight, may be affected by souring, mold, decay, insect infestatation (no live insects permitted), dirt, or other foreign material; and not more than 2 percent, by weight, of the dates may be affected by decay.

(f) Explanation of terms—(1) Maturity. (i) "Well matured" means that the

dates are fully ripe and are soft, moist, and translucent.

(ii) "Reasonably well matured" means that the dates may not have reached the fully ripe stage but are pliable and translucent.

(iii) "Fairly well matured" means that the dates may be firm but are not immature and are semi-translucent.

(2) Uniformity of size. (i) "Practically uniform in size" means that not more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of whole unpitted dates or whole pitted dates may be conspicuously larger or smaller than the approximate average size of the dates in the container.

(ii) "Reasonably uniform in size" means that not more than a total of 15 percent, by weight, of whole unpitted dates or whole pitted dates may be conspicuously larger or smaller than the approximate average size of the dates in the container.

(iii) "Fairly uniform in size" means that not more than a total of 20 percent, by weight, of whole unpitted dates or whole pitted dates may be conspicuously larger or smaller than the approximate average size of the dates in the container.

(3) Uniformity of color. (i) "Practically uniform in color" means, with respect to an individual container of dates that are predominantly light amber, there may be not more than 5 percent, by count, dark amber dates; and, with respect to an individual container of dates that are predominantly dark amber, there may be not more than 5 percent, by count, light amber dates.

(ii) "Reasonably uniform in color" means, with respect to an individual container of dates that are predominantly light amber, there may be not more than 10 percent, by count, dark amber dates; and, with respect to an individual container of dates that are predominantly dark amber, there may be not more than 10 percent, by count, light amber dates.

(iii) "Fairly uniform in color" means, with respect to an individual container of dates that are predominantly light amber, there may be not more than 20 percent, by count, dark amber dates; and, with respect to an individual container of dates that are predominantly dark amber, there may be not more than 20 percent, by count, light amber dates.

(4) Definition of defects. (i) "Damage by discoloration" is the presence of

a dark area, in the flesh of the date, that is visible through the skin, which dark area is more than one-fourth inch in width and extends more than half the length of the date, such darkening being of natural origin and not caused by mold or other organism.

(ii) “Damage by broken skin" is any rupture of the skin in a manner to expose the flesh of the date, the shortest dimension of such exposed area being not less than three-sixteenths inch.

(iii) "Damage by checking" is the presence of fine lines, resulting from water injury, affecting the surface of the skin over an area not less than onefourth of the total skin surface.

(iv) "Damage by deformity" is any abnormal shape sufficient to produce an appearance discernibly at variance with the normal shape that is typical of the variety.

(v) "Damage by puffiness" is the condition of a date of which the skin is dry, hard, and brittle and from which the skin is separated from the flesh over an area not less than one-half of the total surface.

(vi) "Damage by scars” are any blemishes that affect the exterior of the date and which are not less than three-sixteenths inch in the shortest dimension.

(vii) "Damage by sunburn" is an area, usually light in color, scarred by the heat of the sun, such area being not less than three-sixteenths inch in the shortest dimension.

(viii) "Damage by side spot" means a very dark area, generally occurring circular in appearance, extending into the flesh of the date and, when decayed tissue or mold is not present, affects in the aggregate an area not less than the area of a circle three-sixteenths inch in diameter.

(ix) "Damage by insect injury" is any blemish, resulting from the activity of insects or mites, distributed over an area of not less than one-eighth of the total surface of the date.

(x) "Damage by semi-dry calyx end" means that the flesh at the stem end of the date, constituting not less than one-eighth and not more than onefourth of the date, is immature in character and appreciably harder and more dry than the balance of the date.

(xi) "Damage by dry calyx end" means that the flesh at the stem end of the date, constituting more than one-fourth

of the date, is immature in character and appreciably harder and more dry than the balance of the date.

(xii) "Damage by lack of pollination" means, with respect to whole dates, that pollination of the date was not accomplished, such condition being manifested by the absence of a pit in the whole or whole unpitted dates or by thin, immature appearance of the date.

(xiii) "Damage by improper ripening" means evidence of “green shrivel" of the date or that the date possesses a puffy flesh or a decidedly rubbery texture resulting from failure of the tissue of the date to reach a desirable soft pliable condition.

(xiv) "Damage by improper curing or improper hydrating” means that the date has been injured by excessive heat or that the curing or hydrating process is incomplete.

(xv) "Damage by mashing" means any physical injury to the flesh and skin of the date leaving the date partially mangled but otherwise whole.

(xvi) "Damage by blacknose" is the condition of a date involving severe checking in which the flesh becomes dark, crusty, and dry and affects an area greater than one-eighth of the total surface of the date.

(xvii) "Damage by black scald" means the collapse, death, and blackening of the flesh along the side of the date, usually accompanied by a bitter taste in the affected area.

(xviii) "Damage by mechanical injury" means excessive trimming or similar injury that damages the appearance or that damages or affects the eating quality of the whole date or the whole unpitted date.

(xix) "Affected by souring" is the condition of a date in which the sugar has been broken down into alcohol and acetic acid by yeasts and bacteria.

(xx) "Affected by mold" is the presence of visible mold.

(xxi) "Affected by decay" is a condition of decomposition.

(xxii) "Affected by insect infestation" is the presence of dead insects, insect parts, or excreta. (No live insects permitted.)

(xxiii) "Affected by dirt or other foreign material" is the presence of any quantity of such substances.

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