FSC 8940

A-A-20048B

March 5, 2002

SUPERSEDING

A-A-20048A

May 24, 1994

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

PASTA, CANNED

(IN TOMATO SAUCE, WITH OR WITHOUT MEAT)

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

 the use of this Commercial Item Description.

1. SCOPE. This Commercial Item Description (CID) covers canned pasta, packed in commercially 

acceptable containers, suitable for use by the Federal, State, local governments, and other interested 

parties.

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following:

- Type(s), style(s), ravioli size(s), and shape(s) required (Sec. 3).

- When canned ravioli needs to meet child nutrition labeling (CN labeling) (Sec. 3).

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 8.1) or USDA certification (Sec. 8.2).

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. CLASSIFICATION. The canned pasta shall conform to the following list which shall be specified 

in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

Types, styles, ravioli sizes, and shapes.

Type I - Beef Ravioli

 Style A - In meat sauce

 

METRIC
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 Ravioli size 1 - Regular

 CN labeling (a) - With a CN label (Contains enriched macaroni product with fortified

 protein) 1/

 CN labeling (b) - Without a CN label

 Ravioli size 2 - Mini

 Ravioli size 3 - Other

1/ When a CN label is specified, the canned pasta shall comply with USDA, Food and Nutrition 

Service (FNS), Child Nutrition Programs, National School Lunch Program (7 CFR Part 210, 

Appendices A and C).

 

 Style B - In tomato sauce

 Ravioli size 1 - Regular

 Ravioli size 2 - Mini

 Ravioli size 3 - Other

 Style C - In brine

 Style D - Other

Type II - Cheese Ravioli

 Style A - In tomato sauce (meatless)

 Style B - Other

Type III - Spaghetti

 Style A - With meatballs in tomato sauce

 Style B - In tomato sauce with cheese (meatless)

 Style C - With beef in tomato sauce

 Style D - Other

 

Type IV - Macaroni

 Style A - With beef in tomato sauce

 Style B - Other

Type V - Lasagna 

 Style A - In tomato sauce (meatless)

 Style B - In meat sauce

 Style C - Other

Type VI - Shaped Pasta 

 Style A - With meatballs in tomato sauce
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 Style B - In tomato sauce with cheese (meatless)

 Style C - With franks in tomato sauce

 Shape 1 - Rings

 Shape 2 - Theme (alphabet, cartoon characters)

 Style D - Other

Type VII - Other 

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

products shall meet the requirements of the:

- Salient characteristics (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).

5. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

5.1 Processing. The canned pastas shall be processed in accordance with good manufacturing 

practices (21 CFR Part 110) and be commercially sterile ready-to-use.

5.2 Ingredients.

5.2.1 Meat. Each beef ravioli shall consist of at least 10 percent beef, based on fresh meat weight. 

“Spaghetti with Meatballs in Tomato Sauce”, “Spaghetti with Beef in Tomato Sauce”, “Macaroni with 

Beef in Tomato Sauce”, and similar products shall contain not less than 12 percent of meat computed 

on the weight of the fresh meat. Mechanically separated beef may be used in accordance with 9 CFR § 

319.6. The presence of the sauce shall be declared on the label as part of the name of the product. 

Meatballs may be prepared with farinaceous material and with other binder and extenders provided in 9 

CFR § 318.7 (c) (4). The beef shall be free of cartilage, coarse connective tissue, section of tendons or 

ligaments, and glandular material.

5.2.2 Sauce with meat or meat sauce. The sauce must contain at least 6 percent ground meat. 

5.2.3 Tomato sauce. The sauce shall contain tomato puree and/or tomato paste, thickeners, and 

spices. 
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5.2.4 Pasta product. The pasta product used in canned pasta shall conform to the U.S. Standards of 

Identity for Enriched macaroni products (21 CFR § 139.115). 

5.3 Finished product.

5.3.1 Drained weight.

5.3.1.1 Ravioli. The drained weight of Type I and II, canned ravioli, shall not be less than 50 percent 

of the weight of the can’s contents. 

Procedure: Place the canned ravioli at room temperature atop a 12 inch diameter U.S. Standard No. 

8 sieve in a manner that will distribute the product over the sieve. Drain for 2 minutes at approximately 

a 20 degree angle. Determine drained weight by subtracting the sieve tare weight from the gross weight. 

 The drained weight shall be reported to the nearest whole percentage.

5.3.2 Appearance. The ravioli shall be uniform in size and shape. The tomato sauce shall have a redorange color and may contain visible flecks of herbs and spices. The meat sauce shall contain 

identifiable pieces of meat. The pieces of meat, meatballs, and franks shall have a characteristic cooked 

color. 

5.3.3 Flavor and odor. The canned pasta shall posses a characteristic flavor and odor and shall be 

free of objectionable flavors and odors such as, but not limited to, burnt, scorched, rancid, sour, or 

stale.

5.3.4 Texture. The cooked beef shall be moist and tender. The cooked pasta products shall be 

slightly soft to slightly firm, not pasty. The tomato sauce shall possess a smooth texture and mouth feel. 

The meat sauce shall possess a moderately thick texture. 

5.3.5 Defects. There shall be no bone or bone fragments in the packaged food.

5.3.6 Foreign material. All ingredients shall be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from evidence of 

rodent or insect infestation. 

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

distributor shall certify that the canned pasta provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this CID, 

conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be the same canned 

pasta offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to require proof of 

conformance.
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7. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. For all styles that contain a meat food product, the 

finished canned pasta shall originate and be produced and processed in plants regularly operating under 

Meat and Poultry Inspection Regulations of the USDA. The meat food product used to make all styles 

shall be produced and processed in plants regularly operating under Meat and Poultry Inspection 

Regulations of the USDA. The delivered pasta shall comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local 

mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, 

distribution, and sale of canned pasta within the commercial marketplace. Delivered canned pasta 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. NOTE: When the manufacturing plant is under FSIS regulations, 

paragraphs 8.1.1 and 8.1.2 do not apply.

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

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the canned pasta distributed meets or 

exceeds the requirements of this CID.

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

quality and acceptability or both be determined, USDA/FGIS or USDA/AMS shall be the certifying 

program. The agency inspectors shall certify the quality and acceptability of the canned pasta in 

accordance with agency procedures which include selecting random samples of the packaged canned 

pasta, 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 canned pasta for conformance to the United States Standards for 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 

the canned pasta, and compliance with requirements in the following areas:

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 5).

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

 order).

11. REFERENCE NOTES.

11.1 USDA contacts.

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

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

Stockyard Administration (GIPSA), USDA, Stop 3632, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-3632, telephone (202) 720-0252, Fax (202) 720-1015, or via E-mail: 

hgreenwo@gipsadc.usda.gov or jgiler@gipsadc.usda.gov.

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

PPB, 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: 

james.rodeheaver@usda.gov.
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11.1.3 CN labeling contact. For CN labeling information, contact the Head, Technical Assistance 

Section, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, 

Alexandria, VA 22302, telephone (703) 305-2609 or on the Internet at:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/.

11.2 Sources of documents.

11.2.1 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Applicable provisions of the Food and Nutrition Service Regulations are contained in 7 CFR Part 210. 

The Meat and Poultry Inspection Regulations are contained in 9 CFR Parts 301 to end. The Fair 

Packaging and Labeling Act are contained in 16 CFR Parts 500 to 503. 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: 

www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

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

comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc. and any data which may 

improve this CID are available from and/or provided to: Head, Food Quality Assurance Staff, FVP, 

AMS, USDA, STOP 0243, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-0243, 

telephone (202) 720-9939, Fax (202) 690-0102, via E-mail: FQAStaff@usda.gov or on the 

Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvqual.htm.

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.
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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Military Coordinating Activity: DOJ - BOP

HHS - NIH, IHS

Army - GL USDA - FV

VA - OSS

Custodians

PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Army - GL

Navy - SA USDA - FV

Air Force - 35

Review Activities

Army - MD, QM

Navy - MC

DLA - SS

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

religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.