# U Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Agricultural Marketing

Service

Fruit and Vegetable Program

Specialty Crops Inspection

Division 

# U nited States Standards

for Grades of Frozen

Lima Beans

Effective August 29 , 2013This is the ninth issue, as amended, of the United States Standards for Grades of

Frozen Lima Beans published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of July 30

, 2013 ( 78 FR 45907 ) to become effective August 29 , 2013

. This issue supersedes the eighth

issue , which has been in effect since March 2 2 , 19 5 7

.

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 fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, these standards are designed to facilitate orderly marketing by provid ing a convenient basis for buying and selling, for establishing quality control programs, and for determining loan values.

T he U.S. grade standards, grading manuals , handbooks or instructions for inspection of

several fresh and processed fruits and veget ables are available on the i nternet and
upon request at the address below

. 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 t he 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 ob tained from:

Director

, Specialty Crops Inspection Division Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS

, U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 024 0 Washington, D.C. 20250 Phone: (202) 720

- 5870 Fax: (202) 720

- 0393

_____________________ __________________________________________________ Authority : 7 U.S.C. 1621

- 1627

.

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 applic able State laws and regulations.

Non

- Discrimination Policy: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, se x, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an in dividual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic i nformation in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To File an Employment Complaint: If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a person nel action. Additional information can be

found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html

. To File a Program Complaint: If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html , or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632

- 9992 to request the for m. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washingt on, D.C. 20250

- 9410, by fax (202) 690

- 7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov

. Persons with Disabilities: Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877

- 8339 or (800) 845

- 6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail dire ctly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (2 02)

720

- 2600 (voice and TDD).United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

1 United States Standards for Grades of Frozen L ima Beans

Section Page No.

§52.501 P roduct D escription. 2

§52.502 T ypes of F rozen L ima B eans. 2

§52.503 G rades of F rozen L ima B eans. 2

§52.504 A scertaining the G rade. 2

§52.505 A scertaining the R ating for the F actors which are S cored. 3

§52.506 C olor. 3

§52.507 D efects. 5

§52.508 A scertaining the G rade of a L ot. 9United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

2 §52.501 Product description.

Frozen lima beans means the frozen product prepared from the clean, sound, succulent

seed of the lima bean plant without soaking, by shelling, washing, blanching, and properly draining, and is then frozen in accordance with good commercial practice and maintained at temperatures necessary for the preservation of the product.

§52.502 Types of frozen lima beans.

(a) Thin

- seeded such as Henderson, Bush and Thorogreen varieties.

(b) Thick

- seeded Baby Potato such as Baby Potato, Baby Fordhook, and Evergreen.

(c) Thick

- seeded, such as Fordhook variety.

§52.503 Grades of frozen lima beans.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of frozen lima beans that possess similar varietal characteristics; that possess a good flavor; that are tender; that possess a good color; that are practically free from defects; and that score not less than 90 points

when scored in accordance wi th the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(b) U.S. Grade B is the quality of frozen lima beans that possess similar varietal characteristics; that possess a good flavor; that are reasonably tender; that possess a reasonably good color; that are reas onably free from defects; and that score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(c) U.S. Grade C is the quality of frozen lima beans that possess similar varietal characteristics; that possess a fairly good flavor; that are fairly tender; that possess a fairly good color; that are fairly free from defects; and that score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(d) Substandard is the qua lity of frozen lima beans that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C

.

§52.504 Ascertaining the grade.

(a) General. In addition to considering other requirements outlined in the standards, the following quality factors are evalua ted:

(1) Factors not rated by score points.

(i) Varietal characteristics.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

3 (ii) Flavor.

(iii) Tenderness.

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

Factors Points

Color 60

Defects

_ 40

Total Score 100

(b) The scores for the factors of color and absence of defects are determined immediately after thawing to the extent that the product is substantially free from ice crystals and can be handled as individual units. The evaluation of the factors of tenderness and flavor of frozen lima beans is made after thawing and after the product is cooked.

(c) Good flavo r means that the product has a good, characteristic, normal flavor and odor and is free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any

kind.

(d) Fairly good flavor means that the product may be lacking in good flavor and

odor but is free from o bjectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

§52.505 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 such factors an d expressed numerically. The numerical range within each factor which is scored is inclusive (for example, 54 to 60 points means 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, or 60 points).

§52.506 Color.

(a) General. The color of frozen lima beans has reference to the col or characteristic

of the individual lima bean.

(1) Green means that not less than 50 percent of the surface area of the individual lima bean possesses as much or more green color than U.S.D.A. lima bean green color standard for frozen lima beans.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

4 (2) Wh ite means that more than 50 percent of the surface area of the individual lima bean is lighter in color than U.S.D.A. lima bean white color standard for frozen

lima beans.

(3) The U.S.D.A. frozen lima bean color standards conform to the International

Comm ission on Illumination ( ICI ) and other color requirements as specified in

Table No. I of this section.

Table No. 1 Color Requirements for U.S.D.A. Color Standards for Frozen Lima Beans

Color designation Daylight directional

reflectance Chromaticity coord inates

Y x y

U.S.D.A. lima bean green color standard

U.S.D.A. lima bean

white color standard 40.4

63.5 .3715

.3731 .4576

.4016

(4) Information regarding these color standards may be obtained by contacting the Specialty Crops Inspection Divi sion.

(b) "A" classification. Frozen lima beans that possess a good color may be given a score of 54 to 60 points. Good color means that the lima beans, regardless of type, possess a bright typical color and meet the following additional color requirem ents for the respective types:

(1) Thin

- seeded type (with skins removed); Thick

- seeded Baby Potato type (with skins on).

(i) Not less than 93 percent, by count, of the lima beans are green and not more than 7 percent by count, may be lighter in color: P rovided, that not more than 1 percent, by count, of all the lima beans are white, or

(ii) Not less than 97 percent, by count, of the lima beans are green and not more than 3 percent, by count, may be lighter in color or white lima beans.

(2) Thick

- seeded type (with skins on). Not less than 85 percent, by count, of the lima beans are green and not more than 15 percent, by count, may be lighter in color: Provided, that not more than 1 percent, by count, of all the lima beans are

white.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

5 (c) "B" classifica tion. If the frozen lima beans possess a reasonably good color a score of 48 to 53 points may be given. Frozen lima beans that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B regardless of the total score for the product (this is a l imiting rule)

. Reasonably good color means that the lima beans, regardless of type, possess a typical color and meet the following additional requirements for the respective types:

(1) Thin

- seeded type (with skins removed); Thick

- seeded Baby Potato type (with skins on). Not less than 65 percent, by count, of the lima beans are green and not more than 35 percent, by count, may be lighter in color or white lima

beans.

(2) Thick

- seeded type (with skins on). Not less than 60 percent, by count, of the

lima beans are green and not more than 40 percent, by count, may be lighter in

color: Provided, that not more than 5 percent, by count, of all the lima

beans are white.

(d) "C" classification . If the frozen lima beans possess a fairly good color a score of 4 2 to 47 points may be given. Frozen lima 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 good color means that the lima beans, regardless of t ype, possess a typical color and meet the following additional requirements for the respective types:

(1) Thin

- seeded type (with skins removed); Thick

- seeded Baby Potato type (with skins on). Less than 65 percent, by count, of the lima beans are green

an d all of the lima beans may be white.

(2) Thick

- seeded type (with skins on). Less than 60 percent, by count, of the lima beans are green: Provided, that not more than 20 percent, by count, of all

the lima beans are white.

(e) "SStd" classification. Fr ozen lima beans that are definitely off color or fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 41 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limit ing rule)

.

§52.507 Defects.

(a) General. The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from harmless extraneous vegetable material, from pieces of beans, shriveled beans, sprouted beans, light discoloration, and from beans that are blemished or seriously

blemished

.

(1) Harmless extraneous vegetable material means:

(i) Predominantly flat or predominantly cylindrical, green, tender vegetable material, such as pieces of pods or leaves and stems of the lima bean plant; andUnited States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

6 (ii) Predominantly spher ical vegetable material, such as seeds from other plants.

(2) Piece of bean (broken bean) means :

(i) A whole bean from which one

- half or more of a cotyledon or the equivalent
thereof has become detached;

(ii) Two detached whole cotyledons ;

(iii) Pieces of detached broken cotyledons aggregating the equivalent of one average size whole cotyledon; and

(iv) A whole detached skin or portions of detached skin aggregating the equivalent of an average size whole skin.

(3) Shriveled means lima beans that are m aterially wrinkled and are not of normal plumpness.

(4) Sprouted means lima beans that show an external shoot protruding prominently beyond the cotyledon or skin.

(5) Light discoloration means light discoloration of the hilum or other light

discoloration which slightly affects but does not materially affect the appearance or eating quality of the bean.

(6) Blemished means blemished by discoloration or blemished by other means to the extent that the appearance or eating quality of the bean is materially a ffected.

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

(b) "A" classification. Frozen lima beans that are practically free from defects may be given a score of 36 to 40 points. Practically free from defects means
that:

(1) There may be present:

(i) For each 10 ounces, net weight , one piece, or pieces, of predominantly flat, harmless extraneous vegetable material having an aggregate area of 3/16 square inch (1/2 inch b y 3/8 inch) on one surface of the piece, or pieces, and one predominantly cylindrical piece, or pieces, of harmless extraneous vegetable material not exceeding 1/2 inch in length in the aggregate; or

(ii) For each 30 ounces, net weight, one predominantly spherical piece of harmless extraneous vegetable material measuring not more than 1/4 inch in diameter.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

7 (2) There may be present:

(i) 5 percent, by count, of pieces of beans; 1 /

(ii) 1 percent, by count, of shriveled and sprouted beans;

(iii) 2 percent, by count, of blemished and seriously blemished beans, and of such 2 percent, not more than 1/4 thereof or 1/2 of 1 percent, by count, of all the beans may be seriously blemished; and that

(3) The presence of harmless extraneous vegetable material, pieces of beans, shriveled and sprouted beans, light discoloration, and blemished and seriously blemished beans, individually or collectively, does not more than slightly affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(c) "B" classification. If the fr ozen lima beans are reasonably free from defects

, a score of 32 to 35 points may be given. Frozen lima beans that fall into this classification on account of the presence of shriveled or sprouted beans and of blemished or seriously blemished beans, shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B regardless of the total score for the product (this is a partial limiting rule). Reasonably free from defects means that:

(1) There may be present:

(i) For each 10 ounces, net weight, one piece, or pieces, of predominant ly flat, harmless extraneous vegetable material having an aggregate area of 3/8 square inch (1/2 inch by 3/4 inch) on one surface of the piece, or pieces, and one predominantly cylindrical piece, or pieces, of harmless extraneous vegetable

material not exc eeding 3/4 inch in length in the aggregate; or

(ii) For each 30 ounces, net weight, two predominantly spherical pieces of harmless extraneous vegetable material measuring not more than 1/4 inch in

diameter.

(2) There may be present:

(i) 10 percent, by c ount, of pieces of beans; 1 /

(ii) 4 percent, by count, of shriveled and sprouted beans;

1 / The percent, by count, of pieces of beans in the sample is determined by dividing the total number of pieces of beans by the total number of beans and pieces of b eans and multiplying the quotient by 100.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

8 (iii) 3 percent, by count, of blemished and seriously blemished beans, and of such 3 percent, not more than 1/3 thereof or 1 percent, by count, of all the beans may be seriously blemished; and that

(3) The presen ce of harmless extraneous vegetable material, pieces of beans, shriveled and sprouted beans, light discoloration, and blemished and seriously blemished beans, individually or collectively, does not materially affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(d) "C" classification. Frozen lima beans that are fairly free from defects may be given a score of 28 to 31 points. Frozen lima beans that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C regardless of the total

score for t he product (this is a limiting rule). Fairly free from defects means
that:

(1) There may be present:

(i) For each 10 ounces, net weight, one piece, or pieces, of predominantly flat, harmless extraneous vegetable material having an aggregate area of 3/4 square inch (1/2 inch by 1

- 1/2 inch) on one surface of the piece, or pieces, and one predominantly cylindrical piece, or pieces, of harmless extraneous vegetable material not exceeding 1 inch in length in the aggregate; or

(ii) For each 30 ounces, net wei ght, three predominantly spherical pieces of harmless extraneous vegetable material measuring not more than 1/4 inch in

diameter.

(2) There may be present:

(i) 15 percent, by count, of pieces of beans; 1 /

(ii) 8 percent, by count, of shriveled and sprou ted beans;

(iii) 4 percent, by count, of blemished and seriously blemished beans, and of such 4 percent, not more than 1/2 thereof or 2 percent, by count, of all the beans may be seriously blemished; and that

(3) The presence of harmless extraneous veget able material, pieces of beans, shriveled and sprouted beans, light discoloration, and blemished and seriously blemished beans, individually or collectively, does not seriously affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

1 / The percent, by cou nt, of pieces of beans in the sample is determined by dividing the total number of pieces of beans by the total number of beans and pieces of beans and multiplying the quotient by 100.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans ( August 29 , 2013 )

9 (e) "SStd" classification . Frozen lima beans that fail to meet the req uirements of paragraph (d) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 27 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule)

.

§52.508 Ascertaining the grade of a lot.

The grade of a lot of frozen lima beans covered by these standards is determined by the procedures set forth in the R egulations Governing I nspection and Certification of

Processed P rodu cts thereof, and certain other P rocessed F ood P roducts (7 CFR 52.1 through 52.83).