USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Commodity Procurement Staff 

PO Box 419205, MS 8718 

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

BFM4

BAKERY FLOUR MIX

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: April 1, 2016
BFM4 Page 1 of 5

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

BFM4

BAKERY FLOUR MIX

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS______________________________________ 2

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES _____________________________________________________ 2

Section 1.2 WARRANTY ________________________________________________________ 3

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE ______________________________________________ 3

Section 1.4 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS__________________________________________ 3

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS ______________________ 3

Section 2.1 GENERAL __________________________________________________________ 3

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING_________________________________________ 3

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS _____________________________________ 4

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION ______________________________________________________ 4
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Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

Quality of Bakery Mix.

A. All wheat shall be tested for vomitoxin in accordance with procedures approved 

by Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). Any wheat 

testing higher than 2 parts per million (p.p.m.) for vomitoxin shall not be used in 

production of the commodity. The final product shall not contain more than 1

p.p.m. of vomitoxin.

B. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, bakery mix shall meet the 

requirements specified in the Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-20181C 

(August 6, 2014) for Bakery Mixes, Prepared available at 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/cid/bakery-products

The Bakery Flour Mix shall be:

Type II

Class 2

Fat level D (Transfat free)

Sodium level 4)*

Gluten content a)

*Sodium shall be 410 mg/45 grams (1/3 cup) Serving Size, or 911mg/100 

gram serving. 

C. except for the following:

(1) Maximum moisture level allowed is increased to 11.5 percent.

(2) Shortening shall be a hydrogenated vegetable shortening (excluding palm oil, 

palm kernel oil, and coconut oil). 

(3) Specific volume shall be not less than 2.6.

(4) Buttermilk or whey may be used in place of nonfat dry milk. If whey is used, 

it shall be whey protein concentrate as defined in 21 CFR, Part 184.1979c

available at 

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFR

Part=184, and meet the following requirements:

Whey Protein Concentrate

Item Requirements

Minimum Maximum

Protein --- 29.0%

Moisture --- 4.0%

Fat --- 3.0%

Maximum ash --- 12.0%

A standard plate count of 50,000 per gram

A maximum coliform count of 10 per gram
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A negative salmonella per 100 grams

A maximum scorched particles of 10 per milligram

A minimum 6.6 ph (1:9 dilution at 20 ̊ centigrade)

The whey shall be a free flowing powder, cream to light yellow in 

color, and bland in flavor

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The bakery mix shall have a shelf life of at least nine (9) months from date of 

manufacturer. Product shall not be manufactured more than 30 days prior to shipping.

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. The contractor shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to ensure that 

the product meets the commodity specifications. The results shall be evidenced by 

a Certificate of Analysis (COA).

B. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet 

contract requirements.

Section 1.4 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS

“Kosher Only” products will be identified in the solicitation. Kosher only 

products shall comply with applicable dietary (kosher) laws as established by the 

“613 Council of Kashruth.” Manufacturing plants shall be certified for 

compliance with the aforementioned requirement by contacting the Board of 

Jewish Education of Greater New York (BJENY) at 646-472-5366. A rabbinic 

supervisor will be sent to certify compliance of the manufacturing plant with the 

dietary (kosher) laws.

Offeror shall certify that their manufacturing plant is capable of meeting 

applicable dietary (kosher) laws as established by the “613 Council of Kashruth” 

and certification by BJENY. 

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials 

requirements used under this contract.

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall certify at the 

time of submission of an offer that the commercial product being delivered has a 

history of successful distribution and use in domestic commercial channels and is 

sold on the commercial market with an established level of consumer acceptance.

B. Container and packaging requirements are those used in the current commercial 

shipping practices and shall comply with: 

(1) Unitization requirements in Section 2.4. 
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(2) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” may be 

printed on the principal display panel of the food label. 

(3) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number shall be shown on 

the commercial bill of lading. 

(4) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe stacking 

height. It is the responsibility of the contractor in cooperation with the 

shipping container manufacturers to determine the safe stacking height. 

(5) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses, all commerciallabeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR USDA FOOD 

DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.” 

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS

A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the requirements of the 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe contact with the packaged product. 

The contractor shall obtain and maintain documentation from the container or 

packaging material manufacturer to verify that the containers and packaging 

materials used in this contract were in compliance with the Government’s 

regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as required in the 

Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement, Regulatory Requirements for 

Commodities and Packaging. 

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to: 

Senior Contracting Officer

Ray Boyd

Telephone (816) 926 2612 or Email Roy.Boyd@ams.usda.gov

C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from a foreign 

country and/or the package and container is manufactured in a foreign country, 

the package and container SHALL NOT display country of origin labeling. 

Phrases similar to but not inclusive of, “Made in [Name of Foreign Country.]” or 

“Product of [Name of Foreign Country.]” are strictly prohibited. 

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements: 

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of packaged 

products shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped). 

B. Pallets shall be: 

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the 

packaged product, as a unit, without loss or damage. 

(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken runners or 

slats. 

(3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products. 

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be: 

(1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a minimum of 50 
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percent beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet load. 

(2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized shipping 

containers. The shipping containers shall be held firmly in place by the 

stretch wrap. 

D. Pallet loads shall be: 

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping containers 

overhang the edges of pallets. 

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a manner 

that prevents shifting during transit.

E. USDA does not participate in a pallet exchange program.