beans may be firm or soft and that the presence of hard or mushy beans does not materially affect the eating quality; and that the skins may be slightly tough. Canned dried beans that have a reasonably good character may be given a score of 32 to 35 points and shall not be graded above "U.S. Grade B," regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

(d) "Substandard." Canned dried beans that fail to meet the requirements of grade B may be given a score of 0 to 31 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 2852.421 Determining the grade of a lot.

The grade of a lot of canned dried beans 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 (§§ 2852.1 to 2852.83).

§ 2852.422 Score sheet for canned dried beans.

Container size

Container code or identification...

Label

Net weight

§ 2852.420 Character.

(a) General. The factor of character refers to the degree of freedom from hard beans, mushy beans, beans with tough skins; and the overall texture of the product.

(b) "Good character" means that the beans have a good, typical texture, that may be slightly soft or slightly firm; and that the skins are tender. Canned dried beans that have a good character may be given a score of 36 to 40 points.

(c) "Reasonably good character" means that the beans have a reasonably good, typical texture, that the

Similar varietal characteristics. Grade

'Indicates partial limiting rule. Indicates limiting rule.

'Not applicable for the style of "in brine." 'Not applicable for "mixed" type.

(3)

(4)

Subpart-United States Standards for Grades of Canned Green Beans and Canned Wax Beans

SOURCE: 26 FR 5555, June 22, 1961, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977.

IDENTITY, STYLES, AND GRADES

§ 2852.441 Identity.

(a) "Canned green beans" means canned green beans as defined in the definitions and standard of identity CFR for canned green beans (21 155.120(a)), issued pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (b) "Canned wax beans" means canned wax beans as defined in the definitions and standard of identity for canned wax beans (21 CFR 155.120(a)), issued pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

(c) "Canned beans" or "beans" as hereinafter referred to in this subpart means canned green beans or canned wax beans.

(d) "Unit" means an individual green bean or wax bean, or portion of either in canned beans.

§ 2852.442 Styles of canned beans.

(a) "Whole" means canned beans that consist of whole pods, including pods which after removal of either or both ends are less than 24 inches in length or transversely cut pods not less than 24 inches in length and, except for "vertical pack" or asparagus style, are not arranged in any definite position in the container.

(b) "Whole vertical pack" means canned beans that are "whole" and are packed parallel to the sides of the container.

(c) "Whole asparagus style" means canned beans that are "whole" and consist of pods that are cut at both ends are of substantially equal lengths, and are packed parallel to the sides of the container.

(d) "Sliced lengthwise" or "French style" means canned beans consisting of pods that are sliced lengthwise.

(e) "Cut" or "cuts" means canned beans consisting of pods that are cut transversely into pieces less than 234 inches, but not less than 4 inch, in

length, and may contain shorter end pieces which result from cutting.

(f) "Short cut" or "short cuts" means canned beans consisting of pieces of pods of which not less than 75 percent are less than 4 inch in length and not more than 1 percent are more than 14 inches in length.

(g) "Mixed" or "mixture" means a mixture of two or more of the following styles of canned beans: "whole"; "sliced lengthwise"; "cuts"; or "short cuts".

§ 2852.443 Grades of canned beans.

(a) "U.S. Grade A" (or "U.S. Fancy") is the quality of canned green beans or canned wax beans that possess similar varietal characteristics; possess a normal flavor and odor; are practically free from defects for reasons other than damaged by mechanical injury; possess a good character; and are of such quality with respect to clearness of liquor, uniformity of color, and absence of defects as to score not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(b) "U.S. Grade B" (or "U.S. Extra Standard") is the quality of canned green beans or canned wax beans that possess similar varietal characteristics; possess a normal flavor and odor; possess a reasonably uniform typical color, are reasonably free from defects; possess a reasonably good character; and are of such quality with respect to clearness of liquor as to score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(c) "U.S. Grade C" (or "U.S. Standard") is the quality of canned green beans or canned wax beans that possess similar varietal characteristics; possess a normal flavor and odor; possess a fairly good liquor; possess a fairly uniform typical color; are fairly free from defects; possess a fairly good character; and score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(d) "Substandard" is the quality of canned beans that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C and may or may not be "Below Standard in

inch (0.0937-inch ±3%, square openings) so as to distribute the product evenly, inclining the sieve slightly to facilitate drainage, and allowing to drain for 2 minutes. A sieve 8 inches in diameter is used for No. 21⁄2 size cans (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.

§ 2852.446 Compliance with recommended drained weights.

Compliance with the recommended drained weights for canned beans in Table I is determined by averaging the drained weights from all the containers in the sample which is representative of a specific lot and such lot is considered as meeting the recommendations if the following criteria are met:

(a) The average of the drained weights from all of the containers in the sample meets the recommended minimum drained weight for the applicable style;

(b) The drained weights from the containers which do not meet the recommended minimum drained weight are within the range of variability of good commercial practice.

TYPES AND SIZES

§ 2852.447 Types of canned beans.

The type of canned beans is not incorporated in the grades of the finished product, since the type of canned beans is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. The type of canned beans is based upon the relationship of the width and thickness measurement and is described as "round-type" or "flat-type" as follows:

(a) "Round-type" are canned beans having a width not greater than 11⁄2 times the thickness of the bean.

(b) "Flat-type" are canned beans having a width greater than 11⁄2 times the thickness of the bean.

§ 2852.448 Sizes of canned beans.

The size of beans is not a factor of quality of canned beans for the purpose of these grades. The size of a whole, cut, or short cut bean is determined by measuring the thickness at the shorter diameter of the bean transversely to the long axis at the thickest portion of the pod. The desig nations of the various sizes of round type and flat type beans are shown in Table No. II-A and II-B of this subpart.

Te lang:

the pa

§ 2852.451 Clearness of liquor.

TONS SE (a) (A) classification. Canned beans bear that possess a practically clear liquor I may be given a score of 9 or 10 points. "Practically clear liquor" means that the liquor may possess a slight tint of yellow-green to green color and that not more than a trace of suspended material and sediment is present.

(b) (B) classification. If the canned beans possess a reasonably clear

liquor, a score of 8 points may be given. "Reasonably clear liquor" means that the liquor may be cloudy bs and contain a small quantity of sediment.

1

(c) (C) classification. If the canned beans possess a fairly good liquor, a score of 7 points may be given. "Fairly good liquor" means that the liquor may be dull in color, but not off color; may be cloudy; or may possess a noticeable accumulation of sediment.

(d) (SStd) classification. Canned beans that possess a liquor that is definitely off color for any reason, is excessively cloudy, or contains a seriously objectionable quantity of sediment may be given a score of 0 to 6 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 2852.452 Color.

(a) (A) classification. Canned beans that possess a practically uniform bright typical color may be given a score of 14 or 15 points. "Practically uniform bright typical color" means that the canned beans possess a color that is bright and typical of very young and tender green beans or wax beans, as the case may be, of similar varietal characteristics with not more than 5 percent, by count, of units

which vary markedly from this typical color.

(b) (B) classification. If the canned beans possess a reasonably uniform typical color, a score of 12 or 13 points may be given. "Reasonably uniform. typical color" means that the canned beans possess a color that is typical of young and reasonably tender green beans or wax beans, as the case may be, of similar varietal characteristics with not more than 10 percent, by count, of units which vary markedly from this typical color.

(c) (C) classification. Canned beans that possess a fairly uniform typical color may be given a score of 10 or 11 points. Canned beans 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 uniform typical color" means that the canned beans possess a color that is typical of nearly mature and fairly tender green beans or wax beans, as the case may be, of similar varietal characteristics with not more than 15 percent, by count, of units which vary markedly from this typical color.

(d) (SStd) classification. Canned beans that are definitely off color or fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 9 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 2852.453 Absence of defects.

(a) General. The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from blemished and seriously blemished units; from unstemmed units, detached stems, leaves, extraneous vegetable matter; or split units, loose seeds and pieces of seed, small pieces of pod, and ragged-cut units or units damaged by mechanical injury in the applicable styles; and any other defects not specifically defined which affect the appearance or edibility of the units or the product.

(b) Definitions of defects or defective units. (1) "Blemished" or "blemished unit" mean blemished by scars, pathological injury, insect injury, or other means in which the aggregate area af