United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Programs

Processed

Products

Branch

United States 

Standards for 

Grades of 

Pineapple Juice

Effective

August 24, 2010
This is the fifth issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Pineapple Juice 

published in the FEDERAL REGISTER (75 FR 51978) on August 24, 2010, to become 

effective August 24, 2010. This issue supersedes the fourth issue of the United States 

Standards for Grades of Canned Pineapple Juice which has been in effect since April 1, 

1987.

Voluntary U.S. grade standards are issued under the authority of the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946, which provides for the development of official U.S. grades to 

designate different levels of quality. These grade standards are available for use by 

producers, suppliers, buyers, and consumers. As in the case of other standards for 

grades of processed fruits and vegetables, these standards are designed to facilitate 

orderly marketing by providing a convenient basis for buying and selling, for establishing 

quality control programs, and for determining loan values.

The standards also serve as a basis for the inspection and grading of commodities by 

the Federal inspection service, the only activity authorized to approve the designation of 

U.S. grades as referenced in the standards, as provided under the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946. This service, available as on-line (in-plant) or lot inspection and 

grading of all processed fruit and vegetable products, is offered to interested parties, 

upon application, on a fee-for-service basis. The verification of some specific 

recommendations, requirements, or tolerances contained in the standards can be 

accomplished only by the use of on-line inspection procedures. In all instances, a grade 

can be assigned based on final product factors or characteristics.

In addition to the U.S. grade standards, grading manuals or instructions for inspection of 

several processed fruits and vegetables are available upon request for a nominal fee. 

These manuals or instructions contain detailed interpretations of the grade standards 

and provide step-by-step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the Department after careful consideration of all data 

and views submitted, and the Department welcomes suggestions which might aid in 

improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may be submitted to, and

copies of standards and grading manuals obtained from:

Chief, Processed Products Branch

Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

STOP 0247 

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-0247
United States Standards for Grades of Pineapple Juice

Section Page No.

§52.1761 Product description.................................................................................... 2

§52.1762 Styles.......................................................................................................... 2

§52.1763 Definitions of terms..................................................................................... 2

§52.1764 Recommended sample unit sizes............................................................... 4

§52.1765 Grades........................................................................................................ 4

§52.1766 Factors of quality and analysis. .................................................................. 4

§52.1767 Fill of container. .......................................................................................... 5

§52.1768 Requirements for grades. ........................................................................... 6

§52.1769 Sample Size. .............................................................................................. 7

§52.1770 Lot requirements......................................................................................... 7

Authority: Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, Secs. 203, 205, 60 Stat. 1087, as 

amended, 1090, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624).

Note: Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to 

comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or with 

applicable State laws and regulations.
2

§52.1761 Product description.

(a) Pineapple juice is the product as defined in the standards of identity for 

Pineapple Juice (21 CFR 146.185), issued under the Federal Food, Drug, 

and Cosmetic Act.

(b) Pineapple juice from concentrate is the product as defined in the 

standards of identity for Pineapple Juice (21 CFR 146.185), issued under 

the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

§52.1762 Styles.

(a) Unsweetened.

(b) Sweetened.

§52.1763 Definitions of terms.

(a) Acid means the grams of acid contained in 100 milliliters of the juice 

(calculated as anhydrous citric acid).

(b) Brix means the soluble solids content as determined by the method 

prescribed in the Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of 

Official Analytical Chemists - Solids by Means of Spindle (Association of 

Official Analytical Chemists, Inc., Official Methods of Analysis of the 

Association of Official Analytical Chemists). This text is updated 

periodically, and any update or change in the method of analysis would be 

incorporated, as warranted, in the latest edition. The Brix may be 

determined by any other method that gives equivalent results.

(c) Brix/acid ratio means the ratio of the degrees Brix of the juice to the 

grams of anhydrous citric acid per 100 milliliters of the juice.

(d) Color.

(1) Pineapple juice.

(i) Very good color means the juice possesses a bright typical 

varietal color ranging from light yellowish beige to a golden

amber or golden pinkish cast typical of freshly pressed and 

properly processed juice from mature, well-ripened 

pineapple.
3

(ii) Good color means the juice possesses a typical varietal 

color which may be slightly dull (but not off-color) yet normal 

for freshly pressed and properly processed juice from 

mature, well-ripened pineapple.

(2) Pineapple juice from concentrate.

(i) Very good color means the juice possesses a typical 

varietal color ranging from light yellowish beige to a golden 

amber or golden pinkish cast typical of reconstituted and 

properly processed juice from mature, well-ripened 

pineapple.

(ii) Good color means the juice possesses a typical varietal 

color which may be slightly dull (but not off-color) yet normal 

for reconstituted and properly processed juice from mature, 

well-ripened pineapple.

(e) Defects mean excess pulp, dark specks, pieces of shell, seeds, or other 

coarse or hard substances that are objectionable particles.

(1) Practically free from defects means the defects that are present 

do not more than slightly affect the appearance or palatability of the 

juice.

(2) Reasonably free from defects means the defects that are present 

do not more than materially affect the appearance or palatability of 

the juice.

(f) Finely divided insoluble solids means the particles in the juice that 

separate from suspension by centrifuging.

(g) Flavor.

(1) Very good flavor means the juice possesses a distinct varietal 

flavor that is typical of freshly extracted juice (pineapple juice) or 

typical of reconstituted juice (pineapple juice from concentrate) that 

is properly processed from mature, well-ripened pineapple.

(2) Good flavor means the juice possesses a normal varietal flavor 

that may be slightly caramelized but is not off-flavor.

(h) Sample unit means a container and/or its entire contents, a portion of the 

contents of one or more containers or other unit of commodity.
4

§52.1764 Recommended sample unit sizes.

The factors of quality and analysis may be determined based on the following sample 

unit sizes:

(a) The entire contents of a container;

(b) A representative portion of the contents of a container;

(c) A combination of the contents of two or more containers; or

(d) A representative portion of processed product stored or held in bulk 

containers.

§52.1765 Grades.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of pineapple juice or pineapple juice from 

concentrate that meets the applicable requirements of Table I or Table II.

(b) U.S. Grade B is the quality of pineapple juice or pineapple juice from 

concentrate that meets the applicable requirements of Table I or Table II.

(c) Substandard is the quality of pineapple juice or pineapple juice from 

concentrate that fails to meet the requirements for U.S. Grade B.

§52.1766 Factors of quality and analysis.

The grade of a lot of pineapple juice or pineapple juice from concentrate is based on 

observation and analysis of the juice for the following quality and analytical factors:

(a) Quality:

(1) Color;

(2) Defects;

(3) Flavor; and

(4) Total Score.

(b) Analytical:

(1) Acid measurement; 
5

(2) Brix measurement;

(3) Brix/acid ratio; and

(4) Finely divided insoluble solids.

(c) The relative importance of each quality factor is expressed numerically on 

the scale of 100. The maximum number of points that may be given each 

factor is:

Factors Points

Color ...................................................................................

Defects................................................................................

Flavor..................................................................................

Total Score ...............................................................

20

40

 40

100

(d) The essential variations within each factor are so described that the value 

may be determined for each factor and expressed numerically. The 

numerical range for the rating of each factor is inclusive (for example, 17 

to 20 points means 17, 18, 19, or 20 points) and the score points shall be 

prorated relative to the degree of excellence for each factor.

§52.1767 Fill of container.

The standard of fill of container for pineapple juice or pineapple juice from concentrate 

is a fill of not less than 90 percent of the total capacity of the container except when the 

food is frozen. Pineapple juice or pineapple juice from concentrate that does not meet 

this requirement is Below Standard in Fill.
6

§52.1768 Requirements for grades.

TABLE I - PINEAPPLE JUICE

FACTORS GRADE A GRADE B

Quality:

Color:

Score points: 

Very good

17 to 20

Good 

 14 to 16 1/ 2/

Defects:

Score points: 

Practically free

34 to 40

Reasonably free

 28 to 33 1/ 2/

Flavor:

Score points: 

Very good

34 to 40

Good

 28 to 33 1/ 2/

Total score (minimum): 85 points 70 points

Analytical: Unsweetened Sweetened Unsweetened Sweetened

Brix (minimum): 12.0° 12.5° 10.5° 11.0°

Acid (maximum): 1.10g/100mL 1.10g/100mL 1.35g/100mL 1.35g/100mL

Soluble pineapple juice 

solids (percent by weight of 

finished product prior to 

addition of sweetener -

minimum):

12.0 10.5

Brix/acid ration (minimum): 12.0:1 12.0:1 12.0:1 12.0:1

Finely divided insoluble 

solids (percent by volume): 5 to 26% 5 to 26% 5 to 30% 5 to 30%

1/ Pineapple juice that falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. 

Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product. This is a limiting rule.

2/ Pineapple juice that falls below this classification shall not be graded above 

Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product. This is a limiting rule.
7

TABLE II - PINEAPPLE JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE

FACTORS GRADE A GRADE B

Quality:

Color:

Score points: 

Very good

17 to 20

Good 

 14 to 16 1/ 2/

Defects:

Score points: 

Practically free

34 to 40

Reasonably free

 28 to 33 1/ 2/

Flavor:

Score points: 

Very good

34 to 40

Good

 28 to 33 1/ 2/

Total score (minimum): 85 points 70 points

Analytical: Unsweetened Sweetened Unsweetened Sweetened

Brix (minimum): 12.8° 13.0° 12.8° 13.0°

Acid (maximum): 1.10g/100mL 1.10g/100mL 1.35g/100mL 1.35g/100mL

Soluble pineapple juice solids 

(percent by weight of finished 

product prior to addition of 

sweetener - minimum): 12.8 12.8

Brix/acid ration (minimum): 12.0:1 12.0:1 12.0:1 12.0:1

Finely divided insoluble solids 

(percent by volume): 5 to 26% 5 to 26% 5 to 30% 5 to 30%

1/ Pineapple juice from concentrate that falls into this classification shall not be 

graded above U.S. Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product. This is 

a limiting rule.

2/ Pineapple juice from concentrate that falls below this classification shall not be 

graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product. This is 

a limiting rule.

§52.1769 Sample Size.

The sample size used to determine whether pineapple juice meets the requirements of 

these standards 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).

§52.1770 Lot requirements.

A lot of pineapple juice or pineapple juice from concentrate is considered as meeting the 

requirements for quality if:

(a) The requirements specified in Table I or II, as applicable, are met; and

(b) The sampling plans and procedures in 7 CFR 52.1 through 52.83 are met.