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United States Standards

for Grades of Brazil 

Nuts in the Shell

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell

(81 FR 51297) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since 

August 25, 1966.

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, vegetables, and specialty crops these 

standards are designed to facilitate orderly marketing by providing a convenient 

basis for buying and selling, for establishing quality control programs, and for 

determining loan values.

The U.S. grade standards and inspection instructions for all fresh and processed fruits,

vegetables, and specialty crops are available on the internet and upon request at the 

address below. These documents provide detailed interpretations of the grade standards 

and provide step-by-step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after careful 

consideration of all data and views submitted during rulemaking. The Department 

welcomes suggestions for improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may be 

submitted to, and copies of standards and inspection instructions obtained from:

Director, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Specialty Crops Program,

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240

Washington, D.C. 20250

__________________________________________________________________________

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 applicable State laws and regulations.

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 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html 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.
United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell

Section Page No.

Grade.............................................................................................................................. 2

§51.3500 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

Size Classifications....................................................................................................... 2

§51.3501 Size classifications. ..................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 3

§51.3502 Reserved ..................................................................................................... 3

Application of Standards.............................................................................................. 3

§51.3503 Application of standards. ............................................................................. 3

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 3

§51.3504 Well cured.................................................................................................... 3

§52.3505 Loose extraneous and foreign material. ...................................................... 3

§51.3506 Clean. .......................................................................................................... 3

§51.3507 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.3508 Reasonably well developed......................................................................... 4

§51.3509 Rancidity...................................................................................................... 4

§51.3510 Decay. ......................................................................................................... 4

§51.3511 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 4
United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell (September 6, 2016)

2

Grade

§51.3500 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of well cured whole Brazil nuts in the shell which are free from 

loose extraneous and foreign material and meet one of the size classifications in 

§51.3501. The shells are clean and free from damage caused by splits, breaks, 

punctures, oil stain, mold or other means, and contain kernels which are reasonably 

well developed, free from rancidity, mold, decay, and from damage caused by insects, 

discoloration, or other means.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the 

following tolerances are provided:

(1) For defects of the shell. Ten percent, by count, may fail to meet the 

requirements of the grade, including therein not more than 5 percent for 

serious damage by split, broken or punctured shells, oil stains, mold or 

other means.

(2) For defects of the kernel. Ten percent, by count, may fail to meet the 

requirements of the grade, including therein not more than 7 percent for 

serious damage by any cause: Provided, That not more than fivesevenths of the latter amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for damage

by insects: Provided further, That included in this 5 percent tolerance not 

more than one-half of 1 percent shall be allowed for Brazil nuts with live 

insects inside the shell.

(3) For loose extraneous and foreign material. One percent, by weight: 

Provided, That such material is practically free from insect infestation.

Size Classifications

§51.3501 Size classifications.

(a) Extra large: Not more than 15 percent, by count, of the Brazil nuts pass through 

a round opening 78/64 inch in diameter, including not more than 2 percent which 

pass through a round opening 74/64 inch in diameter; or count does not exceed 

45 nuts per pound (see paragraph (d) of this section);

(b) Large: Not more than 15 percent, by count, of the Brazil nuts pass through a 

round opening 73/64 inch in diameter, including not more than 2 percent which 

pass through a round opening 60/64 inch in diameter; or count does not exceed 

50 nuts per pound (see paragraph (d) of this section);

(c) Medium: Not more than 15 percent, by count, of the Brazil nuts pass through a 

round opening 59/64 inch in diameter, including not more than 2 percent which 

pass through a round opening 50/64 inch in diameter; or count is not less than 51 
United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell (September 6, 2016)

3

nuts per pound but not more than 65 nuts per pound (see paragraph (d) of this 

section) and;

(d) When size is based on count per pound, the 10 smallest nuts per 100 weigh at 

least 6 percent of the total weight of the 100 nut sample.

Reserved

§51.3502 Reserved

Application of Standards

§51.3503 Application of standards.

The grade of a lot of Brazil nuts shall be determined on the basis of a composite sample 

drawn at random from containers in various locations in the lot. However, any 

identifiable portion of the lot in which the Brazil nuts are obviously of a quality or size 

materially different from that in the majority of containers shall be considered as a 

separate lot, and shall be sampled and graded separately.

Definitions

§51.3504 Well cured.

“Well cured” means that the shell is free from surface moisture, and that the kernel is 

firm and crisp, not pliable or leathery.1

§52.3505 Loose extraneous and foreign material.

“Loose extraneous and foreign material” means pieces of pod, pieces of shell, dirt, 

external insect infestation, or any substance other than Brazil nuts in the shell or Brazil 

nut kernels.

§51.3506 Clean.

“Clean” means that the shell is practically free from dirt or other adhering substance.

§51.3507 Damage.

“Damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally 

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, or any other defect, or any 

combination of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance or the edible or 

marketing quality of the individual Brazil nut or of the lot. The following defects shall be 

considered as damage:

 

1

The average moisture content of whole nuts or of kernels may be determined by moisture meter, subject to verification by oven 

drying.
United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell (September 6, 2016)

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(a) Insects when an insect or insect fragment, web, or frass is present inside the 

shell, or the kernel shows distinct evidence of insect feeding;

(b) Split or broken shells;

(c) Oil stains when affecting an aggregate area of more than 20 percent of the 

surface of the shell;

(d) Mold when more than 20 percent of the surface of the shell is affected by a slight 

mold growth or when any mold growth materially detracts from the appearance of 

the shell, or when any mold growth noticeably affects the kernel; and,

(e) Discoloration when the affected area penetrates more than one-sixteenth inch 

into the kernel.

§51.3508 Reasonably well developed.

“Reasonably well developed” means that the kernel fills at least one-half of the 

capacity of the shell.

§51.3509 Rancidity.

“Rancidity” means that state of deterioration in which any portion of the kernel has 

developed a rancid taste.

§51.3510 Decay.

“Decay” means that any portion of the kernel is decomposed.

§51.3511 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, or any other defect, or any 

combination of defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance or the edible or 

marketing quality of the individual Brazil nut. The following defects shall be considered 

serious damage:

(a) Split, broken, or punctured shells when the kernel is plainly visible through a split, 

cracked, or punctured shell without application of pressure;

(b) Oil stains when affecting an aggregate area of more than 50 percent of the shell;

(c) Mold when more than 50 percent of the surface of the shell is affected by a slight 

mold growth or when any mold growth seriously detracts from the appearance of 

the shell, or when any mold growth noticeably affects the kernel;
United States Standards for Grades of Brazil Nuts in the Shell (September 6, 2016)

5

(d) Discoloration when affecting more than 50 percent of the flesh of the kernel; and,

(e) Rancidity or decay.