peas and carrots in which the vegetables have at least reasonably good color, reasonable freedom from defects, a reasonably good character, and fairly good flavor and odor, and which score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(c) "Substandard" is the quality of canned peas and carrots that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B.

FILL OF CONTAINER, DRAINED WEIGHT

§ 52.6204 Fill of container and drained weights.

(a) General. 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 be as full of peas and carrots as practicable without impairment of quality and that the product and packing medium occupy not less than 90 percent of the volume of the container.

(b) Method for ascertaining drained weight. The minimum drained weight recommendations in Table I 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 peas and carrots is determined by emptying the contents of the container upon a U.S. Standard No. 8 circular sieve of proper diameter containing 8 meshes to the inch (0.0937 inch, 13 percent, square openings). The product is evenly distributed on the sieve, the sieve inclined slightly to facilitate drainage, and allowed to drain for 2 minutes. The drained weight is the weight of the sieve and the peas and carrots less the weight of the dry sieve. A sieve 8 inches in diameter is used for the No. 21⁄2 size can (401 x 411) and smaller sizes; and a sieve 12 inches in diameter is used for containers larger than the No. 21⁄2 size can.

$52.6205 Compliance

with

rec

ommended minimum drained weights.

Compliance with the recommended minimum drained weights for canned peas and carrots is determined by averaging the drained weights from all the containers which are representative of

§ 52.6206 Sample unit size.

Compliance with requirements for factors of quality and for proportions of ingredients shall be based on a sample unit consisting of 10 ounces of drained product. A sample unit may be comprised of:

(a) The entire contents of a container;

(b) A combination of the contents of two or more containers;

(c) A representative portion of the contents of a container;

Provided, That not more than one (1) sample unit is derived from any one single container smaller than a No. 10 can and that no less than two (2) sample units are derived from any one single container of a No. 10 can size or larger.

$52.6207 Ascertaining the grade of a sample unit.

(a) General. The grade of a sample unit of canned peas and carrots is ascertained by considering: The flavor and odor which are not scored; the rating of the factors of color, uniformity of size and shape, absence of defects, and character which are scored; the

* A, Catt Scation. Canned peas and CASTER WAch goes a good color may ** C1 & score of 18 to 20 poizca

Ar neata that the produco yaran an overall color that is at MART, TRAMRab.y bright and each of the * is not more than slightly af tected by variations in color, that the Carrota Vas an orange-yellow color which is bright and typical and the Drance of green, white, or orangebrown units does not more than slightly affect the appearance or eating quality of the carrots; that the color of the peas is normal and is typical of at least reasonably young and reasonably ten

most representative of the size of the approximate cube.

(3) Width of a strip. The width of a strip is the widest cut surface measured at right angles to the length of the unit.

(c) (A) Classification. Canned peas and carrots that are practically uniform in size and shape may be given a score of 18 to 20 points. "Practically uniform in size and shape" means that:

(1) The carrots comply with the measurement, shape, and uniformity requirements for (A) classification in Table II; and, in addition

(2) The overall appearance of the product is not materially affected by variations or irregularities in size and shape of the units.

16 or 17 points. Canned peas and carrots that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B regardless of the total score for the product (limiting rule). "Reasonably uniform in size and shape" means that:

(1) The carrots comply with the measurement, shape, and uniformity requirements for (B) classification in Table II; and, in addition

(2) The overall appearance of the product is not seriously affected by variations or irregularities in size and shape of the units.

(e) (SStd) Classification. Canned peas and carrots that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (d) 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 (limiting rule).

§ 52.6211 Defects.

(a) General. The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from harmless extraneous vegetable material, damaged units, seriously damaged units, and any other defect which detracts from the appearance or edibility of the product.

(1) "Harmless extraneous vegetable material" means:

(i) Material common to the pea or carrot plant (such as leaves, stems, or pods); and

(ii) Harmless material from other plants (such as thistle buds or seeds) which are succulent.

(2) "Damaged unit" means any pea or carrot unit that is affected by discoloration or other blemish to the extent that the appearance or edibility of the unit is materially affected and has the following specific meanings with respect to each vegetable:

(i) Peas. Any spotted or off-colored pea (other than blond peas) such as brown or gray discoloration.

(ii) Carrots. Any unit possessing an unpeeled area greater than the area of a circle one-eighth inch in diameter; and any unit blemished by internal or external discoloration, such as sunburn or green color, or other similar color.

(3) "Seriously damaged unit" means a pea or carrot unit that is damaged to

the extent that the appearance or edibility of the unit is seriously affected and includes units with very dark spots or serious discoloration or other abnormalities.

(4) "Other defects" means defects not specifically mentioned that affect the appearance or edibility of the product and include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Peas. Mashed peas, broken peas, loose cotyledons, loose skins, and any portions thereof;

(ii) Carrots. Crushed, broken, or cracked units or units with excessively frayed edges and surfaces.

(b) (A) Classification. Canned peas and carrots 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 one (1) piece of harmless extraneous material per 60 ounces of drained product (average of entire sample); and

(2) Not more than the following per sample unit of 10 ounces:

(i) A total of 8 damaged and seriously damaged units of which not more than one (1) may be seriously damaged: Provided, That damaged and seriously damaged units, either singly or in combination, may no more than slightly affect the appearance or eating quality of the product;

(ii) Harmless extraneous material and/or other defects, individually or collectively, which materially affect the appearance of the product; and

(iii) Any combination of the foregoing which materially affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(c) (B) Classification. If the canned peas and carrots are reasonably free from defects a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Canned peas and carrots that fall into this classification shall not be graded above Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product (limiting rule). "Reasonably free from defects" means that there may be present:

(1) Not more than one (1) piece of harmless extraneous material per 30 ounces of drained product (average of entire sample); and

(2) Not more than the following per sample unit of 10 ounces:

(1) A total of 15 damaged and seriously damaged units of which not more than 3 units may be seriously damaged: Provided, That damaged and seriously damaged units, either singly or in combination, do not seriously affect the appearance or eating quality of the product;

(ii)

Harmless extraneous material and/or other defects, individually or collectively, which seriously affect the appearance or eating quality; and

(iii) Any combination of the foregoing which seriously affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(d) (SStd) Classification. Canned peas and carrots that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section 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 (limiting rule). § 52.6212 Character.

(a) General. The factor of character refers to the tenderness and maturity of the peas; and the tenderness and degree of freedom from stringy or coarse fibers in the carrots.

(b) (A) Classification. Canned peas and carrots which possess a good character may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. Good character means that:

(1) Carrots. The carrot units are tender, are not fibrous, and possess a practically uniform texture.

(2) Peas. The peas are at least reasonably tender and comply with the requirements of Table III.

(c) (B) Classification. If the canned peas and carrots possess a reasonably good character, a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Canned peas and carrots that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product (limiting rule). "Reasonably good character" means that:

(1) Carrots. The carrot units are at least reasonably tender, may be variable in texture but are not tough, hard, or mushy; and not more than 5 percent, by weight, of the carrot ingredient may possess coarse, fibrous material.

(2) Peas. The peas are at least fairly tender; the skins of not more than 5 percent, by count, of the peas may be ruptured to a width of one-sixteenth

1 None. 2 No limit.

METHODS OF ANALYSES

$52.6213 Methods of analyses.

(a) Brine flotation test. The brine flotation test utilizes salt solutions of various specific gravities to separate the peas according to maturity. The brine solutions are based on the percentage, by weight, of pure salt (NaCl) in solution. In making the test a 250 ml. glass beaker is filled with the brine solution to a depth of approximately 2 inches. The brine equipment, solution, and peas should be at the same temperature. Only peas that sink to the bottom of the receptacle within 10 seconds after immersion are counted as "peas that sink". Pieces of peas and loose skins should not be used in making the brine flotation test.

LOT COMPLIANCE

$52.6214 Ascertaining the grade of a lot.

The grade of a lot of canned peas and carrots 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).

Uniformity of Size and Shape

Flavor () Good () Fairly Good () Off
Total score
Grade

'Indicates limiting rule.

Subpart-United States Standards for Grades of Canned SolidPack Apricots

SOURCE: 39 FR 8909, Mar. 7, 1974, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977 and at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION, STYLES, AND GRADES

§ 52.6241 Product description.

"Canned solid-pack apricots" is the product represented as defined in the standards of identity for canned apricots (21 CFR 145.115(a)) issued pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and prepared in one of the styles specified in § 52.6242 and is sealed