[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6546]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 21, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 54

                                             Monday, March 21, 1994
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 52

[FV-94-326]

 

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Peas

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to our periodic review of existing regulations and in 
response to a petition from the National Food Processors Association 
(NFPA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to revise the 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Peas. The proposed rule 
would change the U.S. grade standards for canned peas by: Providing for 
the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product grading with sample 
sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's), tolerances and acceptance 
numbers (number of allowable defects); replacing dual grade 
nomenclature with single letter grade designations; basing the 
tolerance for extraneous vegetable material (EVM) on drained weight 
rather than net contents (product weight and weight of the brine); 
bringing tolerances for defects in canned peas in line with the 
tolerances for defects in frozen peas; removing Sec. 52.2294, Score 
sheet for canned peas; and making minor editorial changes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 20, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. Comments must be sent in duplicate to the 
Office of the Branch Chief, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, room 0709, South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 
20090-4693. Comments should reference the date and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register and will be made available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Branch Chief during regular business 
hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James R. Rodeheaver, Processed 
Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, room 0709, South Building, 
P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, Telephone (202) 720-4693.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is issuing this rule in 
conformance with Executive Order 12866.
    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
Civil Justice Reform. This action is not intended to have retroactive 
effect. This proposed rule will not preempt any State or local laws, 
regulations, or policies, unless they present an irreconcilable 
conflict with this rule. There are no administrative procedures which 
must be exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of 
this rule.
    The AMS Administrator has certified that this action will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law 96-
354 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), because it reflects current marketing 
practices. In addition, these standards are voluntary. A small entity 
may avoid incurring any additional economic impact by not employing the 
standards.
    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) received a 
petition from the National Food Processors Association (NFPA), 
requesting that the U.S. grade standards for canned peas be revised. 
NFPA is a scientifically and technically-based trade association 
representing over 450 food industry companies.
    NFPA's grade standards review subcommittee is responsible for 
reviewing the existing U.S. grade standards for canned fruits and 
vegetables to ascertain whether the standards remain current and 
reflect processing and marketing practices. Based on the subcommittee's 
recommendation, NFPA requested that the U.S. grade standards for canned 
peas, which are currently based on cumulative score points, be revised 
by converting the U.S. grade standards to statistically-based 
individual attributes grade standards, similar to the recently revised 
U.S. grade standards for canned green and wax beans (58 FR 4295, 
January 14, 1993).
    NFPA also requested that market surveys or discussion drafts be 
made available for the industry to review. This proposal is based on 
the review of discussion drafts provided to the industry in June 1991 
and again in July 1992. The drafts incorporated a grading system where 
individual tolerances would be assigned to each individual defect.
    In this proposal, this system of grading, is referred to as 
``individual attributes.'' NFPA submitted its recommendation for 
changes in the most recent draft on March 5, 1993. It would provide 
statistically derived acceptable quality levels (AQL's) based on the 
tolerances in the current standards (except whenever possible, 
tolerances were changed to be more in line with the tolerances for the 
same defects in frozen peas).
    In a meeting held with NFPA on May 27, 1992, USDA staff discussed 
changing the 1991 draft so that the published tolerances in the U.S. 
grade standards for canned peas would reflect the tolerances for an 
average lot size requiring 13 sample units instead of a single sample 
unit. This change would more accurately reflect the tolerances sought 
for specified defects for a given lot size since most lots require 13 
sample units to determine the grade for the lot.
    The standards would incorporate USDA's policy of replacing dual 
grade nomenclature with single letter grade designations. Under the 
proposal, ``U.S. Grade A (``U.S. Fancy''), ``U.S. Grade B'' (``U.S. 
Extra Standard''), and ``U.S. Grade C'' (``U.S. Standard'') would 
simply become ``U.S. Grade A,'' ``U.S. Grade B,'' and ``U.S. Grade C.''
    This proposed revision would also change the criteria for 
evaluating extraneous vegetable material (EVM). The Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) Standards of Identity and Quality for canned peas 
are based on the drained weight of the peas. Under the current U.S. 
grade standards for canned peas, EVM is evaluated on the basis of net 
contents (per 100 ounces of the peas and the brine). A pour-back method 
is used to determine if containers are adequately filled. The criteria 
for evaluating EVM in both FDA Standards of Identity for canned peas 
and frozen peas and the U.S. grade standards for frozen peas are based 
on the weight of the peas only. This proposed revision of the voluntary 
grade standards would bring the quality factor of EVM in canned peas in 
line with the criteria used by FDA, as recommended by NFPA (21 CFR part 
155).
    Wherever justifiable, USDA proposes to bring the tolerances for 
defects in canned peas in line with the tolerances for the same defects 
in the U.S. grade standards for frozen peas.
    USDA uses FDA's minimum quality criteria as a base when it proposes 
to establish higher levels of quality in the U.S. grade standards for 
canned peas. FDA has established different minimum tolerances for 
similar defects in canned peas and frozen peas. Therefore, USDA would 
establish tolerances for some defects in canned peas that will not be 
similar to the tolerances for defects in frozen peas. Whenever 
possible, tolerances for similar defects in canned peas would be the 
same as in frozen peas. Also, this proposed rule would remove 
Sec. 52.2294, ``Score sheet for canned peas,'' from the U.S. grade 
standards. Amending the canned peas score sheet can be more efficiently 
facilitated by editing the score sheet as a document not incorporated 
in the grade standards. This change is consistent with recently revised 
U.S. grade standards in which score sheets are no longer incorporated.
    The proposal includes minor editorial changes and provides a 
uniform format consistent with recent revisions of other U.S. grade 
standards. The proposed format has been designed to provide users with 
simpler and more comprehensive standards. Definitions of terms and 
easy-to-read tables have been incorporated to assure better 
understanding and uniform application of the standards.
    USDA has determined that this proposed rule would facilitate trade 
between processors and buyers and improve the marketing of canned peas.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 52

    Food grades and standards, Food labeling, Frozen foods, Fruit 
juices, Fruits, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vegetables.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture proposes to amend 7 CFR part 52 as follows:

PART 52--PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROCESSED PRODUCTS 
THEREOF, AND CERTAIN OTHER PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS

    1. The authority citation for part 52 is amended to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624.
    2. In Subpart--United States Standards for Grades of Canned Peas, 
Secs. 52.2281 through 52.2291 are revised to read as follows:
Subpart--United States Standards for Grades of Canned Peas
Sec.
52.2281 Product description.
52.2282 Types of canned peas.
52.2283 Definitions of terms.
52.2284 Fill of container.
52.2285 Sizes of peas.
52.2286 Grades.
52.2287 Factors of quality.
52.2288 Prerequisite requirements and allowances for defects.
52.2289 Sample size.
52.2290 Quality requirements.
52.2291 Single sample unit.


Sec. 52.2281  Product description.

    Canned peas means the canned product prepared from clean, sound, 
shelled, succulent peas as such product is defined in the Standards of 
Identity for Canned Peas (21 CFR 155.170) issued pursuant to the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.


Sec. 52.2282  Types of canned peas.

    (a) Early peas means canned succulent peas of Alaska or other 
smooth skin varieties.
    (b) Sweet peas means canned succulent peas of sweet, wrinkled 
varieties.


Sec. 52.2283  Definitions of terms.

    (a) Acceptable quality level (AQL) means the maximum percent of 
defective units or the maximum number of defects per hundred units of 
product that, for the purpose of acceptance sampling, can be considered 
satisfactory as a process average.
    (b) Appearance. (1) Good appearance means that the peas are 
practically all uniform in color and are reasonably free of 
insignificant blemishes.
    (2) Reasonably good appearance means that the peas are fairly 
uniform in color and fairly free from areas of insignificant blemish.
    (c) Blemishes. (1) Blemished means a unit that is spotted or 
otherwise discolored (other than blond), such as vivid-green or brown, 
to the extent that its appearance or eating quality is materially 
affected.
    (2) Seriously blemished means a unit that is seriously discolored 
or spotted, such as a dark discolored pea, to the extent that the 
appearance or eating quality is seriously affected.
    (d) Blond means peas that are cream-colored or yellow in color.
    (e) Defect means any nonconformance of a unit(s) of product from a 
specified requirement of a single quality characteristic.
    (f) Extraneous vegetable material (EVM) means any harmless 
vegetable material, to include: (1) Flat material common to the pea 
plant such as leaves and pods, and flat vegetable material from other 
plants;
    (2) Cylindrical material common to the pea plant such as stems or 
pieces of vines, and cylindrical vegetable material from other plants; 
and
    (3) Spherical material not common to the pea plant such as thistle 
buds, berries and pieces of berries.
    (g) Flavor and odor. (1) Good flavor and odor means the product has 
a characteristic flavor and odor and is free from objectionable flavors 
and odors.
    (2) Reasonably good flavor and odor means that the product may be 
lacking in characteristic flavor and odor but is free from 
objectionable flavors and odors.
    (h) Liquor--(1) Good liquor means the color of liquor is typical, 
may have a slight cloudiness or a tint of green, only a slight to 
moderate amount of suspended material or sediment may be present, and 
the liquor is not viscous.
    (2) Reasonably good liquor means the liquor may be cloudy or 
slightly green, may have a pronounced accumulation of sediment, may be 
dull but not off color, and may be viscous but not so viscous that the 
liquor will not separate from the peas.
    (i) Piece of pea (broken pea) means: (1) A pea from which a 
cotyledon or a large portion thereof has become separated;
    (2) Two detached whole cotyledons;
    (3) Pieces of detached cotyledons aggregating the equivalent of an 
average size cotyledon; and
    (4) A whole detached skin or portions of detached skin aggregating 
the equivalent of an average size whole skin.
    (j) Sample unit means the amount of product specified to be used 
for grading. For appearance, flavor and odor, liquor, and varietal 
characteristics, a sample unit is the entire contents of the container. 
For grading EVM, a sample unit is each 1700 grams (60.0 oz) drained 
product; for blemished (spotted), seriously blemished, and broken peas 
(pieces), a sample unit is each 400 peas.
    For grading maturity, a sample unit is each 50 peas or more in 
accordance with Table III and IV in Sec. 52.2288.
    (k) Tolerance means the percentage of defective units allowed for 
each quality factor.
    (l) Unit means each whole pea.


Sec. 52.2284  Fill of container.

    (a) The standard for fill of container for canned peas is not 
incorporated in the grade of the finished product since fill is not a 
factor of quality for the purposes of these grades. Except in the case 
of vacuum pack, canned peas shall be considered standard in fill if 
they meet the standard of fill promulgated under the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 CFR 155.170). The standard is as follows: If 
the container is so filled that, when the peas and liquid are removed 
from the container and returned thereto (pour-back method), the leveled 
peas (irrespective of the quantity of the liquid), 15 seconds after 
they are so returned completely fill the container.
    (b) A container with lid attached by double seam shall be 
considered to be completely filled when it is filled to the level 5 mm 
(\3/16\ in) vertical distance below the top of the double seam; and a 
glass container shall be considered to be completely filled when it is 
filled to the level 13 mm (\1/2\ in) vertical distance below the top of 
the container. Canned peas that do not meet this requirement are 
``Below Standard in Fill.''


Sec. 52.2285  Sizes of peas.

    Except for the factor of defects in determining pieces of peas, the 
sizes of peas are not considered in ascertaining the quality of the 
product for the purposes of these grades. The size of a pea is 
determined on the basis of the diameter of the circular opening(s) 
through which the pea will pass or will not pass without force or 
pressure. The size designations and diameters applicable to canned peas 
are shown in Table I of this section. 

                     Table I.--Sizes of Canned Peas                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Diameter of circular openings
                                             in inches (millimeters)    
            Size designation             -------------------------------
                                           Will not pass     Will pass  
                                             through         through    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Size 1..................................  ..............    \9/32\ (7.1)
Size 2..................................    \9/32\ (7.1)   \10/32\ (7.9)
Size 3..................................   \10/32\ (7.9)   \11/32\ (8.7)
Size 4..................................   \11/32\ (8.7)   \12/32\ (9.5)
Size 5..................................   \12/32\ (9.5)  \13/32\ (10.3)
Size 6..................................  \13/32\ (10.3)  \14/32\ (11.1)
Size 7..................................  \14/32\ (11.1)                
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 52.2286  Grades.

    (a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of canned peas that: (1) Meets the 
following prerequisites in table II of Sec. 52.2288 in which the canned 
peas: (i) Have similar varietal characteristics;
    (ii) Have a good appearance;
    (iii) Have not more than one (1) percent, by weight, blond peas;
    (iv) Have a good liquor; and
    (v) Have a good flavor and odor.
    (2) Is within the limits for defects as specified in tables IV, V, 
and VII of Sec. 52.2288, as applicable.
    (b) U.S. Grade B is the quality of canned peas that: (1) Meets the 
following prerequisites in Table II of Sec. 52.2288 in which the canned 
peas: (i) Have similar varietal characteristics;
    (ii) Have a good appearance;
    (iii) Have not more than one (1) percent, by weight, blond peas;
    (iv) Have a good liquor; and
    (v) Have a good flavor and odor.
    (2) Is within the limits for defects as specified in tables IV, V, 
and VII of Sec. 52.2288, as applicable.
    (c) U.S. Grade C is the quality of canned peas that: (1) Meets the 
following prerequisites in Table II of Sec. 52.2288 in which the canned 
peas:
    (i) Have similar varietal characteristics;
    (ii) Have a reasonably good appearance;
    (iii) Have not more than two (2) percent, by weight, blond peas;
    (iv) Have a reasonably good liquor; and
    (v) Have reasonably good flavor and odor.
    (2) Is within the limits for defects as specified in tables IV, V, 
and VII of Sec. 52.2288, as applicable.
    (d) Substandard is the quality of canned peas that fail to meet the 
requirements of U.S. Grade C.


Sec. 52.2287  Factors of quality.

    The grade of canned peas is based on requirements for the following 
quality factors: (a) Prerequisite quality factors: (1) Varietal 
characteristics;
    (2) Appearance;
    (3) Blond peas;
    (4) Liquor; and;
    (5) Flavor and odor.
    (b) Classified quality factors: (1) Maturity;
    (2) Extraneous vegetable material (EVM);
    (3) Blemished, spotted or discolored peas;
    (4) Seriously blemished or seriously discolored peas; and
    (5) Pieces of peas (broken).


Sec. 52.2288  Prerequisite requirements and allowances for defects. 

                 Table II.--Prerequisites Requirements                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Factors            Grade A           Grade B            Grade C    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Varietal           Similar..........  Similar.........  Similar.        
 characteristics.                                                       
Appearance.......  Good.............  Good............  Reasonably good.
Blond peas.......  Not more than 1%   Not more than 1%  Not more than 2%
                    by weight.         by weight.        by weight.     
Liquor...........  Good.............  Good............  Reasonably good.
Flavor and odor..  Good.............  Good............  Reasonably good.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Table III.-- AQL's and Tolerances for Maturity Based on Brine     
                             Floatation\1\                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Percent  
  Grade             Type               AQL       Tolerance     salt in  
                                                               solution 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A         Sweet..................         10.1         12.0         11.0
                                           1.3          2.0         13.0
          Early..................         17.6         20.0         11.0
                                           1.3          2.0         13.5
B         Sweet..................         13.0         15.0         13.0
          2.9....................          2.9          4.0         15.0
          Early..................         27.2         30.0         13.5
                                           6.4          8.0         15.0
C         Sweet..................          8.2         10.0         15.0
          Early..................          8.2         10.0        16.0 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Based on 650 peas (50  x  13).                                       

      

                        Table IV.--Lot Acceptance Numbers (Sinkers) for Brine Floatation                        
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Total number of peas                                                                              
------------------------------------------------                                                                
                                      Percent        150          300          650          1050         1450   
  Grade             Type                salt                                                                    
                                      soultion                                                                  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A         Sweet...................         11.0           21           39           78          122          165
                                           13.0            4            7           13           20           26
          Early...................         11.0           34           63          130          205          279
                                           13.5            4            7           13           20           26
B         Sweet...................         13.0           26           48           98          154          209
                                           15.0            8           13           26           39           53
          Early...................         13.5           50           94          195          309          422
                                           15.0           15           26           52           80          108
C         Sweet...................         15.0           18           33           65          101          137
          Early...................         16.0           18           33           65          101         137 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      

              Table V.--Canned Peas Acceptance Numbers for Extraneous Vegetable Material (EVM)\1\               
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Description of Material                  Unit Designation              Grade A      Grade B      Grade C  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flat; or............................  Each 1.5 cm2 (0.25 in2); or........            1            2             
Cylindrical; or spherical...........  Each 13 mm (each 0.50 in); or each                                        
                                       piece.                                                                   
Flat, cylindrical, and spherical EVM  Total weight in grams..............  ...........  ...........            9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 For each 1700 g (60 ozs) of drained product.                                                                  


                              Table VI.--AQL's and Tolerances for Other Defects\1\                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Grade A                     Grade B                     Grade C          
          Defects            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  AQL        Tolerance        AQL        Tolerance        AQL         Tolerance 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blemished peas..............          0.80          1.0           2.6           3.0           4.5           5.0 
Seriously blemished.........          0.37          0.50          0.58          0.75          0.80          1.0 
Pieces of peas (broken)                                                                                         
 larger than No. 2 sieve                                                                                        
 size.......................          4.5           5.0           9.3          10.0          11.8          12.5 
Pieces of peas (broken) No.                                                                                     
 1 & 2......................          6.4           7.0           9.3          10.0          11.3          12.0 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Based on 5200 peas (400x13).                                                                                 


                        Table VII.--Lot Acceptance Numbers for Other Defects, All Sizes                         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Units of product (peas)                 1200         2400         5200         8400         11600   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade A:                                                                                                        
    Blemished peas.............................           15           26           52           80          108
    Seriously blemished........................            8           14           26           40           53
    Pieces of peas (broken) larger than No. 2                                                                   
     sieve size................................           66          125          259          410          560
    Pieces of peas (broken) No. 1 & 2 sieve                                                                     
     sizes.....................................           91          174          363          576          787
Grade B:                                                                                                        
    Blemished peas.............................           40           75          154          242          330
    Seriously blemished........................           11           20           39           60           81
    Pieces of peas (broken), any sieve size....          129          248          520          827         1133
Grade C:                                                                                                        
    Blemished peas.............................           66          125          259          410          560
    Seriously blemished........................           15           26           52           80          108
    Pieces of peas (broken) larger than No. 2                                                                   
     sieve size................................          160          309          652         1040         1426
    Pieces of peas (broken) No. 1 & 2 sieve                                                                     
     sizes.....................................          153          296          625          997         1367
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 52.2289  Sample size.

    The sample size used to determine whether the requirements of these 
standards are met shall be as specified in the sampling plans and 
procedures in the ``Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification 
of Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Products Thereof, and 
Certain Other Processed Food Products'' (7 CFR 52.1 through 52.83).


Sec. 52.2290  Quality requirements.

    A lot of canned peas is considered as meeting the requirements for 
quality if: (a) The prerequisite requirements specified in Sec. 52.2286 
are met; and
    (b) None of the allowances for the individual quality factors 
specified in tables IV, VI, and VII of 352.2288, as applicable are 
exceeded.


Sec. 52.2291  Single sample unit.

    Each unofficial sample unit submitted for quality evaluation will 
be treated individually and is considered as meeting the requirements 
for quality if: (a) The prerequisite requirements specified in 
Sec. 52.2286 are met;
    (b) The acceptable quality levels in Tables III, V, and VI of 
Sec. 52.2288, as applicable for the sieve size, are not exceeded.

    Dated: March 15, 1994.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 94-6546 Filed 3-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P