AMSC N/A FSC 8935/8940 

METRIC 

A-A-20297C 

December 20, 2019 

SUPERSEDING

A-A-20297B 

November 16, 2010 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

SOUP, NOODLE, RAMEN, INSTANT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers instant ramen noodle soup, packed in commercially acceptable 

containers, suitable for use by Federal, State, local governments, other interested parties, and as a 

component of operational rations. Please note: This document does not guarantee purchase 

of this item by USDA.1

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers must specify the following: 

• Type(s), style(s), flavor(s), and class(es) of instant ramen noodle soup required (Sec. 3). 

• When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 7.1). 

• When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 7.2). 

• Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 10.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.4). 

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following: 

• Food Defense (Sec. 10.1) and Manufacturer’s Quality Assurance (Sec. 10.2). Purchaser may 

specify one of the following combinations: Sec. 10.1.1 with 10.2.1 or 10.1.2 with 10.2.2. 

• Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 11). 

3. CLASSIFICATION. The instant ramen noodle soup must conform to the following list 

which must be specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

1 USDA purchase specifications are available at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/product-specs.
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Types, styles, flavors, and classes.2

Type I - Fried noodle 

Type II - Noodles dehydrated by methods other than frying (i.e. baked, freeze-dried, air dried, 

microwaved) 

Style A - Cup/bowl 

Style B - Pouch 

Flavor 1 - Beef 

Flavor 2 - Chicken 

Flavor 3 - Pork 

Flavor 4 - Shrimp 

Flavor 5 - Oriental 

Flavor 6 - Creamy chicken 

Flavor 7 - Chicken mushroom 

Flavor 8 - Picante beef 

Flavor 9 - Chicken vegetable 

Flavor 10 - Picante chicken

Flavor 11 - Lime shrimp

Flavor 12 - Chili

Flavor 13 - Chicken tortilla

Flavor 14 - Hot and spicy shrimp 

Flavor 15 - Seafood

Flavor 16 - Teriyaki chicken

Flavor 17 - Teriyaki beef

Flavor 18 - Other (as specified by the purchaser) 

Class a - Regular

Class b - Reduced sodium (21 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) §101.61) (Applicable to 

Flavors 1 and 2 only) 

4. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S NOTES. Manufacturer’s/distributor’s 

products must meet the requirements of the:

• Processing guidelines (Sec. 5). 

• Salient characteristics (Sec. 6).

• Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 7).

• Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 8). 

• Regulatory requirements (Sec. 9). 

2 Not all options are available from every manufacturer. Check with the manufacturer/distributor for availability. 
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• Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 10).

• Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 11). 

5. PROCESSING GUIDELINES.

5.1 Processing. The instant ramen noodle soup must be processed in accordance with Current 

Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) (21 CFR Part 110) or the Current Good Manufacturing 

Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food (21 CFR Part 

117) in effect on the date of the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, and as applicable to the 

production facility. 

5.2 Food defense. The instant ramen noodle soup must be processed and transported in 

accordance with Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration (21 CFR 

Part 121). This document identifies the kinds of preventive measures food manufacturers, 

processors, or handlers may take to minimize the risk that food under their control will be subject 

to tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions. The implementation of enhanced 

food defense preventive measures provides for the security of a plant’s production processes and 

includes the storage and transportation of pre-production raw materials, other ingredients, and 

post-production finished product. 

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

6.1 Labeling. All ingredients must be declared by their common or usual name in descending 

order of predominance by weight (21 CFR §101.4(a)) unless exempted by 21 CFR §101.100. 

The ramen noodles must comply with Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Compliance 

Policy Guide (CPG) Sec. 505.400, Chow Mein Noodles, Chinese Noodles and Other Oriental 

Noodles; Labeling.3

6.2 Dehydrated product. The dehydrated instant ramen noodle soup must contain ramen 

noodles, dehydrated vegetables (Style A), and soup base appropriate for the particular flavor of 

soup. 

6.2.1 Ramen noodles. The ramen noodles must contain enriched wheat flour, durum semolina 

flour and/or whole wheat flour. The ramen noodles may also contain vegetable or palm oil, salt, 

seasonings, sodium phosphates, potato starch, gums, or other ingredients. 

6.2.2 Dehydrated vegetables. The instant ramen noodle soup may contain onions, corn, 

carrots, garlic, peas, red or green bell peppers, parsley, and/or other vegetables. 

3 https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/cpg-sec-505400-chow-mein-noodles-chinese-noodles-and-otheroriental-noodles-labeling
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6.2.3 Soup base. The soup base must be free flowing and of a color typical of the flavor. 

6.2.4 Style A, Cup/bowl. The dry noodles, by weight, must compose at least 82 percent of the 

contents of the cup or bowl. The instant ramen noodle soup may contain textured soy protein, 

textured soy flavor, freeze-dried shrimp, dehydrated surimi, or dehydrated meats (beef, pork, 

chicken). The dehydrated ingredients must compose at least 2 percent by weight of the contents 

of the cup or bowl. 

 

6.2.5 Style B, Pouch. The dry noodles, by weight, must compose at least 90 percent of the 

contents of the pouch. 

6.2.6 Additional processing ingredients. When used, all additional ingredients must meet the 

standards specified in the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) or, in the absence of FCC specification 

at a minimum, meet the specifications for quality set by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)-National 

Formulary quality. The additional ingredients must be approved food additives (21 CFR Part 

170) or meet Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) requirements (21 CFR Parts 182 and 184) 

for those particular uses by FDA. 

6.3 Reconstituted product. The dehydrated soup must fully rehydrate according to the package 

directions. The dehydrated product must fully rehydrate within 3 to 5 minutes. The 

reconstituted soup must consist of lightly colored, slightly curly noodles in a clear to semiopaque broth. The broth must be free from lumps and undissolved particles (other than spices). 

Vegetables in Style A, Cup/bowl instant ramen noodle soup must be bright in color. If present in 

Style A, Cup/bowl the textured soy protein or textured soy flour must be small meat-like pieces 

with an appearance appropriate to the flavor specified.

6.3.1 Flavor and odor. The reconstituted instant ramen noodle soup must have no foreign 

flavors and odors such as, but not limited to: burnt, scorched, stale, sour, or rancid. The ramen 

noodle soup must have a flavor and odor typical to that specified. Flavor 5, Oriental must 

possess a mild soy flavor. 

6.3.2 Texture. The reconstituted ramen noodles must be soft and elastic but not mushy. The 

vegetables must be fully rehydrated and must have a characteristic, slightly soft, tender texture. 

If present, the textured soy protein or textured soy flour must have a tender meat-like texture.

6.4 Foreign material. All ingredients must be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from foreign 

material, such as, but not limited to, extraneous plant material, dirt, plastic, insects, insect pieces, 

or rodent or insect infestation. 
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7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS.

7.1 Analytical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract or 

purchase order, the following analytical requirements for the instant ramen noodle soup must 

conform to those in Table I: 

TABLE I. Analytical requirements

Test Type Class Requirement

Moisture I --- Not greater than (NGT) 8.0 percent 

Moisture II --- NGT 14.5 percent 

Fat I --- NGT 23.0 percent 

Fat II --- NGT 3.0 percent 

Sodium --- a NGT 2,100 milligrams (mg) per 100 

grams (g) (3.5 ounces (oz)) 

Sodium --- b Does not exceed the limits specified 

in 21 CFR §101.61

7.2 Analytical verification. Purchaser must specify manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification 

(Sec. 10.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.4). 

7.3 USDA verification procedures. When USDA certification (Sec. 10.4) is specified in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing must be performed as follows. 

7.3.1 Product verification sampling. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing must be performed on 

subsamples of packages randomly selected from the lot. The number of subsamples must be 

based on USDA inspection service sampling procedures and plans (7 CFR §52.38). The contents 

of each will be used to create a composite sample that will be used in the analytical testing.

7.3.2 Analytical testing and reporting. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the analyses must be made in accordance with the following methods from the 

AOAC International Official Methods of Analysis (OMA) or as specified in Table II. Any result 

not conforming to the analytical requirements may be cause for rejection of the lot.
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TABLE II. Analytical testing and reporting

Test Method Reported as

Moisture 926.07 Nearest 0.1 percent

Fat 925.12, 991.36 Nearest 0.1 percent

Sodium 985.35, 2011.14, or 

2011.19

Nearest mg per 100 g

8. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S PRODUCT ASSURANCE. The manufacturer/ 

distributor must certify that the instant ramen noodle soup provided meets the salient 

characteristics of this CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance 

practices, and be the same instant ramen noodle soup offered for sale in the commercial market. 

The purchaser reserves the right to require proof of conformance.

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered instant ramen noodle soup must

comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local mandatory requirements and regulations 

relating to the preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of the instant 

ramen noodle soup in the commercial marketplace. Delivered instant ramen noodle soup must

comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, the 

Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. When a known 

allergen is included in the instant ramen noodle soup, the instant ramen noodle soup must

comply with the allergen labeling requirements of the FD&C Act. Major allergens identified in 

the FD&C Act include: wheat, fish, milk, soy, tree nuts, eggs, peanuts, and Crustacean shellfish 

or those in effect on the date of the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

10. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser must specify 10.3, or 10.4. 

Purchaser may specify one of the following combinations: 10.1.1 with 10.2.1, or 10.1.2 with 

10.2.2.

10.1 Food defense. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a Food 

Defense Systems Survey (FDSS) must be conducted by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division. Food 

defense requirements include a documented and operational food defense plan that provides for 

the security of a plant’s production processes and includes the storage and transportation of preproduction raw materials and other ingredients and post-production finished product. The plan 

must address the following areas: (1) food security plan management; (2) outside and inside 

security of the production and storage facilities; (3) slaughter, when applicable, and processing, 

including all raw material sources; (4) shipping and receiving; (5) storage; (6) water and ice 

supply; (7) mail handling; (8) personnel security; and (9) transportation, shipping, and receiving. 
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10.1.1 FDSS. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS must be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, SCP, SCI Division. The FDSS verifies that operators of food 

establishments have implemented measures to minimize the risk of tampering or other criminal 

actions against the food under their control. An AMS FDSS verifies the participating company’s 

adherence to Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration (21 CFR 

Part 121). 

10.1.2 Food defense section of the Plant Systems Audit (PSA). When required in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a food defense audit will be conducted as part of the 

PSA. The audit will be conducted by USDA, AMS, SCP, SCI Division auditors. This verifies 

that operators of food establishments have implemented measures to minimize the risk of 

tampering or other criminal actions against the food under their control. The food defense 

section of the PSA verifies the participating company’s adherence to Mitigation Strategies to 

Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration (21 CFR Part 121). 

10.2 Manufacturer’s quality assurance. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the product manufacturer will be required to provide evidence, by certificate that 

the manufacturing plant has undertaken one of the following quality assurance measures within 

12 months prior to providing a bid or no later than 10 business days from the date of the 

awarding of the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame 

may result in the contract being terminated for cause. 

10.2.1 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA, AMS, or other survey performed by 

a third party auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the 

contract. The plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of the survey, the manufacturer 

produces products in a clean, sanitary environment in accordance with CGMP (21 CFR Part 110) 

or the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive 

Controls for Human Food (21 CFR Part 117) in effect on the date of the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, and as applicable to the production facility. 

10.2.2 PSA. A PSA conducted by USDA, AMS, or other audit performed by a third party 

auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the contract. 

The PSA verifies the manufacturer’s capability to produce products in a clean, sanitary 

environment in accordance with CGMP (21 CFR Part 110) or the Current Good Manufacturing 

Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food (21 CFR Part 

117) in effect on the date of the solicitation, contract, or purchase order as applicable to the 

production facility, and verifies that the manufacturer has in place an internal quality assurance 

program. 

10.3 Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, 

or purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor must certify that the instant ramen noodle soup 

delivered meets or exceeds the requirements of this CID. The manufacturer/distributor must 

certify via a Certificate of Conformance or other adequate documentation (as specified by the 
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purchaser) that the instant ramen noodle soup meets the analytical requirements specified in Sec.

7 of this CID. 

10.4 USDA certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order that 

product quality and acceptability or both be determined, the USDA, AMS, SCP, SCI Division 

inspectors, must be the certifying program. SCI Division inspectors must certify the quality and 

acceptability of the instant ramen noodle soup in accordance with SCI Division procedures, 

which include selecting random samples of the instant ramen noodle soup, evaluating the 

samples for conformance with the salient characteristics and analytical requirements of this CID 

and other contractual requirements, and documenting the findings on official SCI Division score 

sheets and/or certificates. In addition, when required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order, SCI Division inspectors will examine the instant ramen noodle soup for conformance to 

the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) in effect on the date of the 

solicitation.

11. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking must be 

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

12. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Sec. 10.4 is specified in the solicitation, contract, 

or purchase order, USDA certification must include evaluation of the quality and condition 

of samples of instant ramen noodle soup and compliance with requirements in the 

following areas: 

• Processing guidelines (Sec. 5). 

• Salient characteristics (Sec. 6).

• Analytical requirements when specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order

(Sec. 7). When USDA analytical testing is specified, SCI Division inspection personnel must 

select samples and submit them to the USDA, AMS, Science and Technology Program 

(S&TP) laboratory for analysis.

• Packaging requirements (Sec. 11 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order).

13. REFERENCE NOTES.

13.1 USDA services. 

13.1.1 USDA certification. For USDA certification: Inspection Operations, SCI Division, 

SCP, AMS, USDA, Room 1536 South Building, STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, telephone 800-811-2373, fax (202) 720-0393, or via Email: SCIinspectionoperations@usda.gov. 
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13.1.2 USDA FDSS, plant survey, and PSA. For a USDA FDSS, plant survey, and PSA 

contact the Chief, Auditing Services Branch, SCI Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Room 0711 

South Building, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0247, 

telephone (202) 720-5021, fax (866) 230-9168, or via E-mail: SCAudits@usda.gov.

13.1.3 Analytical testing and technical information. For USDA technical information on 

analytical testing, contact the Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, S&TP, AMS, 

USDA, STOP 0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0272, 

telephone (202) 690-4089 or via E-mail: KerryR.Smith@usda.gov.

13.2 Sources of documents. 

13.2.1 Sources of information for nongovernmental documents are as follows:

Copies of the AOAC International OMA may be obtained from: AOAC International, 2275 

Research Boulevard, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850-3250, telephone (301) 924-7077. 

Internet address: http://www.aoac.org for nonmembers and http://www.eoma.aoac.org for 

members and AOAC OMA subscribers. 

Copies of the Food Chemicals Codex and U.S. Pharmacopeia may be purchased from: United 

States Pharmacopeia Convention, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20877, 

telephone (800) 227-8772 or (301) 881-0666, Fax (301) 816-8148 or on the Internet at: 

http://www.usp.org.

13.2.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Applicable provisions of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers are contained in 7 

CFR Part 42, the National Organic Program are contained in 7 CFR Part 205, the Fair Packaging 

and Labeling Act are contained in 16 CFR Parts 500 to 503, and the Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1 to 199. These documents may be purchased from: 

Superintendent of Documents, New Orders, P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. 

Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover/NOVUS, and American Express) purchases may 

be made by calling the Superintendent of Documents on (866) 512-1800, (202) 512-1800. 

These documents may also be obtained free of charge on the Internet at: 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR.

Copies of the CPG Sec. 505.400 may be obtained from: Dockets Management Staff (HFA305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 106 , Rockville, MD 20852, telephone 1-888-INFO-FDA 

(1-888-463-6332) or on the Internet at: https://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/search-fda-guidance-documents/cpg-sec-505400-chow-mein-noodles-chinesenoodles-and-other-oriental-noodles-labeling.
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Copies of this CID and the U. S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) are 

available from: Director, SCI Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Room 1536 South Building, 

STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0240, via E-mail: 

CIDS@usda.gov or on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/cids

and https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2015-title7-vol2/pdf/CFR-2015-title7-vol2-

part42.pdf. 

Copies of this CID are also available online at: ASSIST Online (https://assist.dla.mil) or 

ASSIST Quick Search (https://quicksearch.dla.mil).

Beneficial comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc., and any data 

which may improve this document should be sent to: DLA Troop Support, ATTN: FTSA, 

700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092 or via E-mail: dscpsubsweb@dla.mil.
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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITY:

Custodians DOJ - BOP

HHS - FDA

Army - GL USDA - SCP

Navy - SA VA - OSS

Air Force - 35 

DLA - SS

PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Review Activities

DLA - SS

Army - MD, QM

Navy - MC (Project No. 8935-2019-001) 

NOTE: The activities listed above were interested in this document as of the date of this 

document. Since organizations and responsibilities can change, you should verify the currency 

of the information above using the ASSIST Online database at https://assist.dla.mil. 

Non-Discrimination Policy: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations 

and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited 

from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, 

disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation 

for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and 

complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American 

Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA 

through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to 

File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 

information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to 

USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.