CPG Sec. 550.600 Olives - Adulteration 
Involving Pits; Rot; Insect Infestation 
REGULATORY ACTION GUIDANCE: 
The following represents the criteria for direct reference seizure *requests to the Office of 
Human and Animal Food Operations (OHAFO) in consultation with the Office of Enforcement 
and Import Operations (OEIO) and CFSAN,  and for direct citation by the appropriate Field 
Office within the Human and Animal Food Program*: 
1.  PITS  
a.  Pitted Whole - (Examine a minimum of 500 olives from each code or from the lot 
if no codes are present). 
The average is 1.3 percent or more by count of olives with whole pits and/or pit fragments 2 mm 
or longer measured in the longest dimension. 
b.  Pitted Salad Olives, Including Broken Pitted, Halved, Quartered, Sliced and 
Chipped or Minced - (Examine a minimum of 1,500 grams from each code or 
from the lot if no codes are present). 
The average is 1.3 or more fragments per 300 grams, including whole pits and fragments 2 mm 
or longer measured in the longest dimension. 
2.  INSECT INFESTATION  
a.  Salt Cured Olives - (Examine a minimum of 6 subs from each code or from the lot 
if no codes are present). The average is 10 percent or more by count of olives with 
10 or more scale insects each. 
b.  Imported Black - Actionable if 10 percent or more by count show damage by 
Dacusa (olive fruit fly). 
c.  Imported Green - Actionable if 7 percent or more by count show damage by 
Dacusa (olive fruit fly). 
d.  Salad Type, Including Broken, Pitted, Halved, Quartered, Sliced, and Chopped or 
Minced - (Actionable if 9 percent or more by weight of olives show damage by 
Dacusa (Olive fruit fly) 
NOTE: "Damage by Dacus" means presence of any form or part thereof of the olive fruit fly 
and/or maggot tunneling affecting an area of 1/4 inch or greater average diameter.  3.  ROT 
Salt Cured Olives - (Examine a minimum of 6 subs from each code or from the lot if no codes 
are present). 
The average is 25 percent or more by count of moldy olives. 
Seizures of olives from domestic production must be discussed with the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture. *E-mail* or FAX the following information to CFSAN/Office of 
*Compliance*/Division of Enforcement (HFS-605) and await reply before proceeding: 
Sample Number 
Article Involved 
Amount of Lot 
Codes 
Date of Shipment 
Dealer 
Shipper 
Analytical Conclusions 
  
SPECIMEN CHARGES: 
1.  PITS 
Article adulterated when introduced into and while in interstate commerce, within meaning of 21 
U.S.C. 342(b)(2) in that olives containing pit fragments have been substituted wholly or in part 
for pitted olives. 
Article misbranded when introduced into and while in interstate commerce, within meaning of 
21 U.S.C. 343(a)(1) in that label statement "Pitted Olives" is false and misleading as applied to a 
product containing olives with pit fragments. 
2.  INSECT INFESTATION 
Article adulterated when introduced into and while in interstate commerce, within meaning of 21 
U.S.C. 342(a)(3) in that it consists wholly or in part of a filthy substance by reason of presence 
therein of insects or insect damaged olives. 
3.  MOLD 
Article adulterated when introduced into and while in interstate commerce, within meaning of 21 
U.S.C. 342(a)(3) in that it consists wholly or in part of a decomposed substance by reason of 
presence therein of moldy, decomposed olives.  *Material between asterisks is new or revised* 
Issued: 10/1/80 
Revised: 3/95, 5/2005 
Updated: 11/29/05