United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[FV-99-329N]

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole

Grain) Corn

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of

Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to change the

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain)

Corn. Specifically, USDA is proposing to provide for the ``individual

attributes'' procedure for product grading with sample sizes,

acceptable quality levels (AQL's), tolerances and acceptance numbers

(number of allowable defects); include varietal types of supersweet and

genetically modified varieties in the grade standards; replace dual

grade nomenclature with single letter grade designations; remove the

recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards

and provide the criteria in the grading manual; remove the score sheet

for canned whole kernel corn; and make minor editorial changes.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit their written

comments to Karen L. Kaufman, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and

Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456; Washington, DC 20090-6456; fax

(202) 690-1087; or e-mail [email protected].

Comments should reference the date and page of this issue of the

Federal Register. All comments received will be made available for

public inspection at the address listed above during regular business

hours. The current United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole

Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn, along with the proposed changes, are

available either through the address cited above or by accessing AMS's

Home Page on the Internet at: www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegcan.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen L. Kaufman at (202) 720-5021.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing

Act of 1946, as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of

Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, condition,

quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such

standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in

commercial practices. * * *'' Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is

committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates

the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official

standards available upon request. The United States Standards for

Grades of Canned Whole Kernel Corn do not appear in the Code of Federal

Regulations but are maintained by USDA. Copies of official standards

are available upon request.

Specifically, AMS proposes to change the United States Standards

for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn using procedures

that appear in Part 36 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7

CFR Part 36). AMS is proposing to provide for the ``individual

attributes'' procedure for product grading with sample sizes,

acceptable quality levels (AQL's), tolerances and acceptance numbers

(number of allowable defects); include varietal types of supersweet and

genetically modified varieties in the grade standards; replace dual

grade nomenclature with single letter grade designations; remove the

recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards

and provide the criteria in the grading manual; remove the score sheet

for canned whole kernel corn; and make minor editorial changes. These

changes will allow for a more equitable marketing environment for

domestic whole kernel corn processors.

AMS received a petition from the National Food Processors

Association (NFPA), requesting that the U.S. grade standards for canned

whole kernel corn be revised. NFPA represents over 550 food industry

companies 1.

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\1\ Source--USDA, NASS, ASB

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NFPA specifically requested that the U.S. grade standards for

canned whole kernel corn, which are currently based on cumulative score

points, be modified by converting the U.S. grade standards to

statistically-based individual attributes grade standards, similar to

the U.S. grade standards for canned green and wax beans (58 FR 4295,

January 14, 1993).

In addition, NFPA requested the grade standards include other

varietal types i.e., supersweet and genetically modified sweet corn.

These newer varieties possess flavor, tenderness, and maturity

characteristics that vary somewhat from conventional corn. The proposed

revision of the grade standards would include the quality

characteristics for these varietal types, for example, appearance, cut,

flavor and odor, tenderness and maturity, extraneous vegetable

material, specified defects, seriously damaged kernels, damaged kernels

and pulled kernels.

Another proposed change would replace dual grade nomenclature with

single letter designations. ``U.S. Grade A'' (or ``U.S. Fancy''),

``U.S. Grade B'' (or U.S. Extra Standard), and ``U.S. Grade C'' (or

``U.S. Standard'') would become ``U.S. Grade A,'' ``U.S. Grade B,'' and

``U.S. Grade C'', respectively.

NFPA also proposed removing the recommended minimum drained weight

criteria from the grade standards and relocating it in the Grading

Manual for Canned Whole Kernel Corn since drained weight, as such, is

not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades.

This proposed revision would remove the ``Score sheet for canned

whole kernel (or whole grain) corn and canned whole kernel (or whole

grain) vacuum pack corn'', from the U.S. grade standards since this

scoresheet is not needed for individual attributes-type grade standard.

This proposed change includes minor editorial changes and provides

a uniform format consistent with recent revisions of other U.S. grade

standards. In addition, this format has been designed to provide

industry personnel and agricultural commodity graders with simpler and

more comprehensive standards.

[[Page 10442]]

AMS has reviewed the petitions and data submitted, gathered

information from government and industry resources and is proposing to

revise the standards based on the recommended changes.

A 60 day comment period is provided for interested persons to

comment on changes to the standards.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

Dated: February 26, 1999.

Robert C. Keeney,

Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-5356 Filed 3-3-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P