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§ 52.420

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 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).

§ 52.421 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

Character

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(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.

§ 52.442 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 23⁄4 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 2 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 11⁄4 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".

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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 Quality-Good Food-Not High Grade".

FILL OF CONTAINER AND DRAINED WEIGHTS

§ 52.444 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 beans be filled with beans 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.

§ 52.445 Recommended drained weight.

The drained weight recommendations in Table No. I of this section are not incorporated in the grades of the finished product since the drained

weight, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. The drained weight of beans is determined by emptying the contents of the container upon a United States Standard No. 8 circular sieve of proper diameter containing 8 meshes to the 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.

§ 52.446 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.

TABLE I-RECOMMENDED MINIMUM DRAINED WEIGHTS FOR CANNED GREEN BEANS AND WAX

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[26 FR 5555, June 22, 1961, as amended at 37 FR 587, Jan. 14, 1972. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977 and at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981]

TYPES AND SIZES

§ 52.447 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 de

scribed 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 1% times the thickness of the bean.

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§ 52.449 Ascertaining the grade of a sample unit.

(a) General. In addition to considering other requirements outlined in the standards, the following quality factors are evaluated in ascertaining the grade of the product:

(1) Factors not rated by score points. (i) Flavor and odor: "Normal flavor and normal odor" means that the canned beans are free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

(ii) Varietal characteristics.

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

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Character.

Total score

Factors

Points

40

100

§ 52.450 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored.

The essential variations within each factor which is scored are so described that the value may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. The numerical range within each factor which is scored is inclusive (for example, "31 to 35 points" means 31, 32, 33, 34, or 35 points).

§ 52.451 Clearness of liquor.

(a) (A) classification. Canned beans that possess a practically clear liquor 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 and contain a small quantity of sediment.

(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).

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(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).

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(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 affected exceeds the area of a circle % inch in diameter or the appearance or eating quality of the unit is materially affected.

(2) "Seriously blemished" or "seriously blemished unit" means blemished to such an extent that the appearance or eating quality of the unit is seriously affected.

(3) "Long stems" mean attached or detached stems which are longer than 1⁄2 inch.

(4) "Extraneous vegetable matter" means leaves and other similar vegetable matter that is harmless, and includes "detached stems", when so indicated.

(5) "Split unit" means a whole bean, cut, or short cut unit, that is split into two parts.

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