AMSC N/A FSC 8920 

 

 A-A-20112C 

 December 28, 2005

 SUPERSEDING 

 A-A-20112B 

 June 6, 2000 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION 

NOODLES, CHOW MEIN 

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

 the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID). 

1. SCOPE. This CID covers chow mein noodles, packed in commercially acceptable 

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

as a component of operational rations. 

2. PURCHASER NOTES. 

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following: 

 - When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 5.1). 

 - When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 5.2). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 8.2) or USDA certification (Sec. 8.3). 

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following: 

 - Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 8.1 with 8.1.1) or (Sec. 8.1 with 8.1.2). 

 - Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 9). 

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

products shall meet the requirements of the: 

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 4). 

 - Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 5). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 6). 

 - Regulatory requirements (Sec. 7). 

 - Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 8). 

 - Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 9). 

METRIC
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4. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS. 

4.1 Processing. The chow mein noodles shall be prepared from bleached or unbleached 

enriched wheat flour, water, salt, and sugar which are processed and heated in partially 

hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean and/or cottonseed). Yeast may be used as an optional 

ingredient. 

4.2 Finished product. The chow mein noodles shall be thin, approximately 0.32 cm (0.13 in) in 

diameter and 3.81 cm (1.50 in) in length. The chow mein noodles shall be free from discolored 

or burnt units. 

4.2.1 Flavor and odor. The chow mein noodles shall possess a fresh toasted wheat-like flavor 

and aroma. The chow mein noodles shall be free from rancid, oxidized flavors and odors.

4.2.2 Color. The chow mein noodles shall possess a golden-brown color. 

4.2.3 Texture. The chow mein noodles shall have a crispy and tender texture with a light 

crunch. 

4.3 Foreign material. All ingredients shall be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from 

evidence of rodent or insect infestation. There shall be no foreign material such as, but not 

limited to, dirt, hair, wood or metal. 

5. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS. 

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

purchase order, the analytical requirements for the finished product shall be as follows: 

5.1.1 Moisture content. The average moisture shall not exceed 3.5 percent with no individual 

sample greater than 3.8 percent. 

5.1.2 Fat content. The fat content of the chow mein noodles shall not be more than 32.0 

percent. 

5.1.3 Salt content. The salt content of the chow mein noodles shall not exceed 2.5 percent. 

5.2 Product verification. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is specified in 

the solicitation, contract or purchase order, the following procedures will be followed. 

5.2.1 Sampling procedures. USDA inspection service will select the number of product 

containers based on USDA inspection service sampling procedures and plans. 
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5.2.2 Samples. Eight randomly selected samples from each lot shall be individually analyzed 

for moisture, fat, and salt. 

5.2.3 Preparation of sample. Blend in a Waring or equivalent blender to uniformity. 

5.3 Analytical testing. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analyses 

shall be in accordance with the following methods from the Official Methods of Analysis of the 

AOAC International. 

Test Method

 Fat 985.15, 925.12 

 Salt 935.47 

 Moisture 927.05 

 

5.4 Test results. The test results shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent. Any result not 

conforming to the analytical requirements shall be cause for rejection of the lot. 

6. MANUFACTURER'S/DISTRIBUTOR'S PRODUCT ASSURANCE. The manufacturer/ 

distributor shall certify that the chow mein noodles provided shall meet the salient characteristics 

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

be the same chow mein noodles offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser 

reserves the right to require proof of conformance. 

7. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered chow mein noodles shall comply with 

all applicable Federal, State, and local mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the 

preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of chow mein noodles within the 

commercial marketplace. Delivered product shall comply with all applicable provisions of the 

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations 

promulgated thereunder. 

8. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 8.2 or 8.3; purchaser 

may specify 8.1 with 8.1.1 or 8.1 with 8.1.2. 

8.1 Manufacturer's quality assurance. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order, the product manufacturer shall 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 awarding of 

the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame may result in 

the contract being terminated for cause. 
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8.1.1 Plant systems audit. A plant systems audit (PSA) conducted by USDA/Federal Grain 

Inspection Service (FGIS), USDA/Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), or another audit 

performed by a third party auditing service and is required within 12 months prior to the date of 

the awarding of the contract. (A FGIS or AMS PSA verifies the manufacturer’s capability to 

produce products in a clean, sanitary environment in accordance with Title 21 Code of Federal 

Regulations Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or 

Holding Human Food, and verifies that the manufacturer has in place an internal quality 

assurance program. The FGIS or AMS PSA determines the manufacturer’s ability to produce 

under this CID, if the products of interest are identified at the time of the PSA.) 

8.1.2 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA/FGIS, USDA/AMS, or another survey 

performed by a third party auditing service and is required within 12 months prior to the date of 

the awarding of the contract. (A FGIS or AMS plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of the 

survey, the manufacturer produces products in a clean, sanitary environment in accordance with 

Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice in 

Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.)

8.2 Manufacturer's/distributor's certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the chow mein noodles distributed 

meet or exceed the requirements of this CID. 

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

product quality or acceptability or both be determined, USDA/FGIS or USDA/AMS (depending 

on how it is packaged) shall be the certifying agency. The agency inspectors shall certify the 

quality and acceptability of the chow mein noodles in accordance with agency procedures which 

include selecting random samples of the packaged chow mein noodles, evaluating the samples 

for conformance with the salient characteristics of this CID and other contractual requirements, 

and documenting the findings on official score sheets and/or certificates. In addition, when 

required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, agency inspectors will examine the chow 

mein noodles for conformance to the United States Standards of Condition of Food Containers in 

effect on the date of the solicitation.

9. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking shall be 

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

10. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 8.3 is specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, USDA certification shall include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of samples of packaged chow mein noodles, and compliance with requirements in 

the following areas: 

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 4). 

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

 (Sec. 5.2). When USDA analytical testing is specified, FGIS or AMS inspection personnel 
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 shall select samples and submit them to the USDA, FGIS or AMS laboratory for analysis. 

 - Packaging requirements (Sec. 9 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

 order). 

11. REFERENCE NOTES. 

11.1 USDA certification contacts. 

11.1.1 Federal Grain Inspection Service. For USDA, FGIS certification, contact the Policies 

and Procedures Branch, Field Management Division, FGIS, Grain Inspection, Packers and 

Stockyard Administration (GIPSA), USDA, STOP 3630, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-3630, telephone (202) 720-0252, Fax (202) 720-1015, or via E-mail: 

henry.greenwood@usda.gov or robert.lijewski@usda.gov. 

11.1.2 Agricultural Marketing Service. For USDA, AMS certification, contact the Branch 

Chief, PPB, Fruit and Vegetable Programs (FVP), AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0247, telephone (202) 720-4693, FAX 

(202) 690-1527, or via E-mail: Terry.Bane@usda.gov.

11.2 Analytical testing and technical information contacts. 

11.2.1 Federal Grain Inspection Service. For USDA, FGIS technical information on 

analytical testing, contact the Branch Chief, Technical Service Division, Analytical Reference 

and Testing Branch, FGIS Technical Center, GIPSA, USDA, 10383 North Ambassador 

Drive, Kansas City, Missouri 64153-1394, telephone (816) 891-0444 or via E-mail: 

lynn.polston@usda.gov or tim.norden@usda.gov. For USDA, FGIS technical information 

contact: Policies and Procedures Branch, FGIS, GIPSA, USDA, STOP 3630, Washington, 

DC 20250-3630, telephone (202) 720-1732, Fax (202) 720-1015, or via E-mail: 

henry.greenwood@usda.gov. 

11.2.2 Agricultural Marketing Service. For USDA, AMS technical information on analytical 

testing, contact the Branch Chief, Technical Service Branch, Science and Technology 

Programs (S&TP), AMS, USDA, STOP 0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-0272, telephone (202) 690-0621, or via E-mail: 

anita.okrend@usda.gov.

11.3 Sources of documents.

11.3.1 Source of information for nongovernmental document is as follows: 

Copies of the Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC International may be obtained from: 

AOAC International, 481 North Fredrick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 

telephone (301) 924-7077. Internet address: http://www.aoac.org. 
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11.3.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows: 

Applicable provisions of: 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, ATTN: New 

Orders, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Credit card (MasterCard or Visa) 

purchases may be made by calling the Superintendent of Documents on (202) 512-1800 or 

on the Internet at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html. 

Copies of this CID and the United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers are 

available from: Head, Food Quality Assurance Program, FVP, AMS, USDA, STOP 0243, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0243, telephone (202)720-9939, 

Fax (202) 690-0102, via E-mail: FQAStaff@usda.gov or on the Internet at: 

www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvqual/htm. 

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

which may improve this document should be sent to: Commander, Defense Supply Center 

Philadelphia, ATTN: DSCP-FTSL, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092, 

FAX (215) 737-2963, or via E-mail: sally.a.gallagher@dla.mil. 

Military activities should submit requests for copies of this CID to: Standardization 

Documents Order Desk, Document Automation and Production Service, 700 Robbins 

Avenue, Building 4D, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094 or on the Internet at: 

http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/. 

MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES: 

Custodians DOJ - BOP 

 HHS - NIH, IHS, FDA 

Army - GL USDA - FV 

Navy - SA VA - OSS 

Air Force - 35 

 PREPARING ACTIVITY: 

Review Activities

 DLA - SS 

Army - MD, QM 

Navy - MC (Project No. 8920-P128) 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political 

beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, 

Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-

6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.