Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Specialty Crops Inspection Division 

PATCH # 053 

DOCUMENT: Condition of Food Container Manual, October 2013 

REMARKS: This information pertains to Condition of Container Examination for fruits and 

vegetables procured by the Commodity Procurement Program (CPP), regarding formal 

examination requests at destination for non checkloaded products. 

BACKGROUND: 

Fruits and Vegetables with no checkloading requirements will rely on the commercial practices 

of the contactors to supply the correct product, quantity, and commodity condition, including 

transportation conditions and sealing. Occasionally a load of government furnished fruits and 

vegetables will arrive at its destination in poor condition (shifted pallets, crushed cases), or in an 

unsealed conveyance and will be “rejected” by the receiver. 

For loads “rejected” at destination, and at the contractors’ request, CPP may grant acceptance of 

the load following an SCI Division Condition of Container examination. SCI will verify the load 

as previously certified, verify count, and document the current condition of product containers. 

All SCI Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACGs) and Federal-State licensees must be trained in 

procedures for the examination of the condition of food containers at destination. 

Procedures for Condition of Container Examinations at Destination 

The following procedures will be used when a request for examination of the condition of food 

containers for product at destination has been submitted. 

Contractor responsibilities 

• Request COC via submitting a completed SC-237 or SC-356 to the appropriate inspection 

office. 

o The SC-237 will designate “Other, Specify” under “Inspection Requested For” and 

state “Condition of Containers.” 

This PATCH represents official guidance. This PATCH is scheduled to be incorporated into the 

document listed above. After incorporation into the document listed above this PATCH will 

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

PATCH # 053 COC at destination (May 21, 2020) 

SCI Division Inspection Series 

Page 1 of 3 
 

 

o The SC-356 will designate “Condition of Container Examination” under the 

“Additional Requirements” section. 

• Supply SCI Representative with proper documentation to verify identity (certificates, 

shipping documentation etc.). 

• Coordinate with the receiver to arrange for the COC examination including: 

o Arranging all containers so they are readily accessible for sampling. 

o Providing necessary labor and equipment for handling the product including 

re-stacking pallets that may have shifted. 

o Supplying adequately lighted facilities. 

o Re-casing product involved in the inspection when applicable 

SCI Division Responsibilities 

• Verify lot identity by cross referencing shipping documentation, inspection 

documentation, and code marks on containers (if any). 

NOTE: If lot identity cannot be determined as previously certified, a re-inspection will 

be required. 

• Verify count 

• After lot identity has been confirmed, perform COC examination as outlined in this 

manual and in accordance with The U.S. Standards for condition of food containers, 7 CFR 

42. The normal double sampling rate will apply to all COC inspections performed at 

destination (see 7 CFR 42.109 Table I-A) however, if abnormal conditions are observed 

upon arrival (i.e. shifted pallets, wet cases, leakers, or other applicable abnormalities) the 

tightened rate may be applied at SCI Divisions discretion (see 7 CFR 42.110 Table II-A). 

• Record results regarding examination on the appropriate AD forms based on type of 

primary and secondary containers in the load. This information then becomes a part of 

the inspection records. See Condition of Food Container Manual, Addendum & 

Worksheets for applicable AD forms and visual aids. 

• Upon completion, make a copy and provide the contractor with the original signed COC 

examination worksheet. 

NOTE: When requested by contractor, SCI will only perform a COC on the containers in the 

load. SCI will not seal trailers or certify the seal on the trailer. The only documentation provided 

to the contractor is the signed Condition of Container examination worksheet. 

This PATCH represents official guidance. This PATCH is scheduled to be incorporated into the 

document listed on the first page. After incorporation into the document listed above this 

PATCH will become obsolete. 

PATCH #053 COC at Destination (May 21, 2020) 

SCI Division Inspection Series 

Page 2 of 3 
 

 

Billing 

Lot inspection fees will be charged as “actual time spent” in accordance with the USDA 

Sampling Manual “Time and Expense” section when billing for COC examinations of processed 

fruits and vegetables. 

Hourly based inspection service fees will apply for COC inspections of fresh fruits and 

vegetables. For current hourly fee rate see the General Market Manual Appendix II – Schedule 

of User Fees 

Billing for these services can be completed via FEIRS or BIIS as appropriate. 

This PATCH represents official guidance. This PATCH is scheduled to be incorporated into the 

document listed on the first page. After incorporation into the document listed above this 

PATCH will become obsolete. 

PATCH #053 COC at Destination (May 21, 2020) 

SCI Division Inspection Series 

Page 3 of 3 
Marketing and 

Regulatory Condition of Food 

Programs 

Agricultural Container Manual 

Marketing 

Service 

Fruit and 

Vegetable October 2013 

Program 

Specialty 

Crops 

Inspection 

Division 
 

 

Condition of Food Container Manual 

Table of Contents 

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 

Guide for Electronic Usage...............................................................................................................1 

General.............................................................................................................................................. 2 

Inspection Procedure.........................................................................................................................4 

Application for Inspection Service ............................................................................................... 4 

Applicant’s Responsibility ............................................................................................................ 5 

Inspection...................................................................................................................................... 6 

Applying Procedures – Stationary Lot........................................................................................ 12 

Other than Origin Inspection AQL’S..............................................................................................15 

Condition of Glass Containers - Guideline for Scoring Loose Caps..............................................15 

Clarification regarding Primary and Secondary Container Designation in the U.S. Standards for 

Condition of Food Containers.........................................................................................................15 

Recording Information and Results on Container Examination Worksheets.................................16 

Attachments.................................................................................................... 19 

i 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 1 of 19 

INTRODUCTION 

This manual is provided to Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division inspection personnel to 

promote uniformity in the inspection of the condition of food containers. The procedures 

contained in this manual are an integral part of Division services. If needed, contact your 

immediate supervisor for any situation not addressed in this manual. 

This manual contains links to various internal and external sources of information. For 

inspection personnel without internet or intranet access, please contact your immediate 

supervisor to obtain hard copies of documents as needed. 

GUIDE FOR ELECTRONIC USAGE 

The Administrative, Inspection, and Management (AIM) System of instructional manuals is 

available electronically in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) at the following 

intranet address: http://agnis/sites/FV/PPB/AIM/default.aspx. 

When accessed electronically, AIM materials have hyperlinks and hypertext (visible as 

underlined blue text) available to the PDF user. Clicking on a hyperlink takes the reader to a 

web site with information relating to the subject. Hypertext will link the reader to a different 

page within the current manual - or even a different manual - with information relating to the 

subject. For example, the hypertext in the Table of Contents allows a reader to go directly to the 

section of interest in the manual by clicking on the section title within the Table of Contents. 

PDF offers a variety of tools depending on the Adobe version the reader has. The newer the 

version, the more tools available. To learn about the variety of PDF search options available: 

• Click on the “Help” tab on the top of this page, 

• Then click on the “Adobe Acrobat Help” bar, 

• Type the word “Search” in the “Search” box, and click on the “Search” button, 

• A series of options will become available, 

• Click on the “Access Search Features” link and follow the instructions for the type of 

search you are interested in. 

This document format allows a PDF user to easily search for content within a document, or 

within multiple documents. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 2 of 19 

GENERAL 

The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers cover procedures for stationary lot, skip 

lot, and on-line sampling and inspection. Note that internal container defects are now included 

as part of the Standards. 

The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers, as supplemented by these instructions and 

any specific instructions from the receiver, will be used when a government agency or private 

user of federal inspection service requests examination of the exterior of food containers for 

condition. The request may be verbal or in writing, and may be made using one of several 

forms. It may be a specific request in a U.S. Department of Agriculture purchase document, or a 

general request to verify that a food product was packaged in accordance with “good commercial 

practices.” The Standards apply to all types of food containers used as primary containers, 

secondary containers, or shipping cases. The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers, 

which are located in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), at 7 CFR 42, may be found at the 

following internet address: 

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

The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers include definitions of terms, sampling 

plans, defect classifications, and acceptance criteria. However, the Standards don’t fully address 

the administrative details of application. This instruction provides additional details and 

guidelines to assure uniform application of the Standards. If needed, the respective inspection 

service may issue supplemental instructions for details that are not fully covered either by the 

Standards or this instruction. 

To provide maximum assistance to inspectors, the procedures in these instructions follow a 

sequence appropriate for most situations, starting with the inspection request and continuing 

through to a decision on whether the lot meets or fails to meet the requirements of the Standards. 

These instructions contain some material not directly related to the Standards to provide more 

thorough coverage of the principles involved in determining the condition of food containers. 

Formal condition of container inspection refers to examining the exterior of filled food 

containers as outlined in the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. 

When a formal condition of container inspection has been made of a lot, any certification of this 

lot must include the result of the condition of container examination. 

Informal condition of container inspection refers to examining the exterior and interior of the 

sample units drawn for quality for scoreable defects. It also includes the overall visual 

appearance of the sampled lot. 

A. Governmental Procurement (Federal, State, County, City) Federal Agencies 

Formal condition of container inspections will be made of all lots. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 3 of 19 

B. Commercial 

An informal condition of container inspection will be made unless a formal 

condition of container is specifically requested by the applicant or the U.S. 

Standards for Food Container are referenced in purchase specifications. 

Informal condition of container examination is made by removal of the labels 

from cans and overwraps from fiberboard cartons that have been drawn for 

quality sample units. Classify and record applicable defects on exterior of 

container. 

Classify and record applicable interior defects. Refer to Table I for acceptance 

and rejection numbers. Advise the applicant that any scorable defects will be 

recorded on the certificate of quality and condition. 

All lots case stamped must have a formal condition of container inspection. 

Visual aids for use in determining the condition of food containers are available at the following 

internet address: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/processedinspection. In the “Processed 

Inspection Services” section in the middle of the page, click on the “Grading and Inspection 

Resources” link, then, under the “Processed Products Division Resources” section click on the 

“Visual Aids” link, then go to the “Visual Aids for Condition of Containers” section and click on 

the “Visual Aids for the Inspection of Containers” link. There you will find links to visual aids 

for: 

• Metal Containers, 

• Glass Containers, 

• Flexible Containers, and 

• Rigid and Semi-Rigid Containers. 
 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 4 of 19 

INSPECTION PROCEDURE 

The U.S. Standards for condition of food containers, 7 CFR 42, may be found at the following 

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

See 7 CFR 42.103 of the Standards for stationary lot, 7 CFR 42.120 for skip lot, and 7 CFR 

42.130 for on-line sampling and inspection procedures. 

Application for Inspection Service 

Requests for inspection are generally directed to the appropriate inspection office by telephone. 

In some instances the inspector may be at the plant or warehouse on a sampling job, and may be 

asked to check additional lots, or the inspection office may receive a copy of the contract from a 

food broker, and contact the vendor to arrange for inspection. 

Details regarding inspection should be recorded on the following worksheet forms or a suitable 

application form. This information then becomes a part of the inspection records. 

The following AD forms are available as fillable PDF’s may be found on the USDA Office of 

the Chief Information Officer web site at the following address: 

http://www.ocio.usda.gov/policy-directives-records-forms/forms-management/approvedcomputer-generated-forms 

Form # COC Table Type of container 

AD-3061 TABLE IV METAL CONTAINERS 

AD-3062 TABLE V COMPOSITE CONTAINERS 

AD-3063 TABLE VI GLASS CONTAINERS (Bottles, Jars) 

AD-3064 TABLE VII PLASTIC CONTAINERS 

(Rigid and Semi-Rigid Bottles, Jars, Tubs, Trays, Pails, etc.) 

AD-3065 TABLE VIII RIGID and SEMI-RIGID CONTAINERS 

(Excluding Metal, Glass, and Plastic) 

AD-3066 TABLE IX FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS 
 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 5 of 19 

Information generally requested and recorded is: 

A. Date and hour of application. 

B. Name and address of the applicant and the receiver. 

C. Name of person requesting the inspection. 

D. Name of the person to be informed of the results. 

E. Name of the packer. 

F. Name and address of the warehouse. 

G. Location of the lot(s), (i.e., aisle, bay, etc.) if known. 

H. Pertinent information concerning the lot(s) such as lot number, railroad car 

number, contract order numbers, length of storage, shipping deadlines, etc. 

I. The number, type, and size of containers, and label (if labeled). 

J. Codes and the approximate number of cases of each. 

K. Inspection status; i.e., initial; or if reoffered, has the lot been previously 

inspected? If so, by whom, what were the results, and has the lot been 

reconditioned? 

L. The basis of the inspection, i.e., Commercial Item Description, Federal 

specification, purchase contract, etc. 

M. Deviations from the Standards, such as origin inspection AQL’s other than 0.25, 

1.5, and 6.5, and special defects not covered by the Standards. 

N. Mutually agreed upon time to perform the inspection. 

Applicant’s Responsibility 

It is the applicant’s responsibility to make certain that full cooperation is given to inspectors 

performing the inspections. Cooperation includes, but is not limited to: 

A. Arranging all containers so they are readily accessible for sampling. 

B. Providing all necessary labor and equipment for handling the product. 

C. Supplying adequately lighted facilities. 

D. Re-casing of product involved in the inspection. 
 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 6 of 19 

Inspection 

A. Preparation 

The supervisor should inform the inspector about any abnormal conditions likely 

to be encountered or of any unusual precautions that should be taken in handling 

the assignment. The supervisor should also notify the inspector if the lot is to be 

inspected under procedures for normal, tightened, or reduced inspection. 

For the inspector, it’s worthwhile to spend a few minutes assembling working 

tools, and studying the inspection request, the contract, and any other pertinent 

documents prior to leaving for the assignment. This can prevent delays and errors 

in handling the inspection. Timing can be an important consideration for packers, 

and as a courtesy, the inspector should arrive as scheduled, ready to get started. If 

a delay in is anticipated, the applicant should be notified as soon as possible. 

Materials and Equipment 

Prior to performing the condition inspection, the inspector should determine that 

applicable materials and equipment are available and in good working condition. 

Such material and equipment may include the following: 

1. A copy of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers and a copy 

of these instructions. 

2. Visual aids for the containers being inspected. 

3. Worksheets for recording defects. 

4. Flashlight or auxiliary lighting. 

5. Tools for opening shipping containers (knife, wire cutters, etc.) 

6. Clean hand towels or other similar material. 

7. “Officially Sampled” roller stamp when required. 

8. Marking pen or pencil. 

9. Cold weather gear for freezer work. 

10. Measuring device such as a ruler or tape measure. 
 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

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B. Initial Contact 

Upon arrival at the plant or warehouse, the inspector should identify him or 

herself, contact the appropriate responsible person, and review the purpose of the 

visit. Note any undue delay in performing the inspection on the application form. 

C. Lot Identity 

Inspection lots must be properly identified for the inspector to carry out inspection 

duties. Reasons for such identification: 

1. Examined containers can be verified to be the same as reported by the 

applicant. 

2. Lots inspected can be associated with related reports and certificates. 

3. Subsequent inspections (if requested) of reconditioned or reworked lots 

can be differentiated from originally inspected lots. 

Inspection lots shall be identified by commodity (type and style), number, size, 

and type of container, including: 

1. Code or other identification marks. 

2. Label or case marks. 

3. Warehouse receipt or lot number. 

4. Warehouse location, including room, stack or row, aisle number or letter, 

and proximity to a permanent object such as door, wall, window, or office. 

D. Preliminary Inspection (Scanning) 

After the lot has been properly identified, the inspector should perform an actual 

count in each lot to verify the reported count. While scanning the lot, determine if 

any segments or portions appear abnormal, as with sweating cans, wet cases, 

blown cans, top layer rust, leakers, critical abnormalities, etc. If such segments or 

portions are noted, the lot should be rejected for condition of container. 

If the lot is rejected prior to sampling, it cannot be subsequently inspected until 

the lot has been reconditioned. If no abnormal portions are observed, samples 

may be drawn to determine condition. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 8 of 19 

E. Sample Procedure 

1. Sample Size 

From previous inspection records on worksheet (Form AD-749), 

determine inspection status, i.e., normal, tightened, or reduced. If no 

inspection records are available, use normal inspection. However, if the 

inspection is a re-inspection of a previously rejected lot that has been 

reconditioned, use tightened inspection. 

Determine the number of primary containers in the lot. Locate in the 

Standards, 7 CFR 42.109 through 42.111, (which may be found at the 

following internet address: 

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

FR) the approximate lot size in Table I or IA for normal inspection, II or 

IIA for tightened inspection, or III or IIIA for reduced inspection. Select 

the proper sample size corresponding to the appropriate lot size. A larger 

sample size may be used when approved by the Administrator or when 

requested by the applicant and approved by the Administrator. 

2. Drawing Samples 

As indicated in the Standards, containers may be drawn either according to 

proportional random sampling or according to simple random sampling. 

If the number of containers per code mark is known, proportional 

sampling is preferred. Regardless of the procedure followed, samples 

must be representative of all portions of the lot. This will generally 

require a complete breakdown of the lot in order for all portions to be 

accessible for sampling. (See your supervisor on the use of random 

inspection numbers.) 

Predetermine and identify the containers or cases from which containers 

will be drawn. All horizontal and vertical layers in a stack should have an 

equal chance of being represented. If the containers are cased, 

predetermine how many to draw from each case selected and which 

containers to select. Examine no more than the maximum number of 

samples permitted in § 42.105(e) of the Standards. These predetermined 

plans for selecting cases and containers will eliminate bias due to 

accessibility of containers and readily visible defects. 

Sometimes a defective container is observed which falls outside the 

predetermined sampling pattern. This container must not be purposely 

selected just because it’s defective, it should be drawn only if it falls in the 

predetermined pattern. However the inspector should recommend that 

obviously defective units be removed from the lot and be replaced. This 

recommendation should be made for any defective container appearing in 

the sample, even though the lot is found to be acceptable. There will also 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 9 of 19 

be instances in which defective containers are localized. For example, the 

entire top layer of a stack may show water damage and contain rusted 

cans, or the front of a stack may show extensive fork lift damage. In these 

instances, identify the sample units with the respective portions of the lot 

to properly inform the applicant of the condition if reconditioning is in 

order. 

The recommended sampling plans in Table IA, IIA, and IIIA of the 

Standards are double plans. Double sampling plans provide for the 

examination of two sets of samples, a first set and a second set. There are 

acceptance and rejection criteria indicated for the first set, and if needed, 

for the total (first plus second) sample sets. The first sample set is 

examined first and a decision made to accept, reject, or continue the 

inspection by drawing and examining the second sample set. Ordinarily, 

the second set is not be drawn unless the lot could not be accepted or 

rejected based on the results of examining the first sample set. However, 

there may be circumstances in which it would be desirable to draw both 

the first and second samples on the initial sampling of the lot. In such 

instances, the examination of the second sample should be held, pending 

the outcome of the examination of the first sample. 

Occasionally lots offered for inspection have portion(s) with severely 

limited accessibility. Under these circumstances, examination is restricted 

to samples drawn from the accessible portion of the lot, and the sample 

size is based on the number of containers available for examination. 

See AIM Inspection Series Sampling and Certification Manuals for further 

information on restricted sampling and related certification procedures. 

F. Classifying and Recording Defects 

Each sample container shall be examined carefully under adequate lighting to 

insure that all defects are noted. The inspector may refuse inspection for 

condition of containers until such lighting is provided. To assist in the proper 

classification of the defects, refer to the visual aid appropriate for the particular 

kind of containers. Be careful to distinguish between “related” and “unrelated” 

defects - only the more serious “related” defect is recorded. 

Defects may be present that are not categorized within the Standards; or purchase 

specifications may require that containers be examined for defects not classified 

in the Standards. If present, these defects shall be classified according to their 

severity, and the results incorporated into the acceptance and rejection criteria. 

Such defects shall be specified on worksheets in the “other” or blank block. 

Each defect shown in Tables IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX in Sections 42.112 and 

42.113 of the Standards, 7 CFR 42 (which may be found at the following internet 

address: 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 10 of 19 

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

serially numbered according to the applicable defect category as follows: Critical 

1, 2, 3, etc.; Major 101, 102, 103, etc.; and Minor 201, 202, 203, etc. 

Record the number and type of defects on the worksheet (Form AD-3061, 

AD-3062, AD-3063, AD-3064, AD-3065, AD-3066, or other forms as approved 

by the Administrator), using the appropriate columns to identify each category of 

defect; i.e., critical, major, or minor. If a second sample must be examined to 

classify the lot, record each set of samples so they can be separately identified on 

the worksheet. Total the number of defects in each of the above categories. 

G. Guidelines for Interior Defects 

The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers and certain sections of the 

Standard specify that formal examinations for condition will be restricted to the 

exterior portion of containers. However, interior defects inside the containers seen 

during the inspection process cannot be disregarded, even though the lot may be 

acceptable based on external defects, as outlined in the U.S. Standards. 

Section 42.114 contains procedures for evaluating interior container defects. 

Interior defects are described in Table XII and Table XIII indicates the 

appropriate Acceptance (Ac) and Rejection (Re) numbers for interior defects 

found in quality samples. Inspectors need to completely remove the lids of 

containers in the samples to examine their interior. Containers should be rinsed 

with hot water and let air dry completely prior to making a final judgment on 

scorable defects. 

Although acceptable by U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers 

(Exterior), Deliveries to Federal or State agencies will be failed if interior defects 

equal or exceed the rejection (Re) numbers in Table XIII. 

At the request of the applicant, the lot may be re-inspected using the applicable 

sampling plan in the U.S. Standards for Food Containers, and all the sample units 

opened for interior examination. 

Commercial lots for which a formal condition of container examination is 

performed and found acceptable by the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food 

Containers will not subsequently fail these U.S. Standards if the interiors of the 

quality sample units show defects. Interior defects will be reported separately in 

the "Remarks" section of the certificate. See the AIM Inspection Series, 

Certification Manual for additional instructions. 

H. In-Plant Inspection 

The procedure for condition of container inspections is the same under in-plant 

inspection as under lot inspections, so is the policy regarding its applicability and 

certification procedures. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

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Unofficial or informal examinations should be made daily based on in-line 

samples according to criteria in these U.S. Standards and AMS Instructions. 

Adverse conditions in packing, packaging and storage, and evidence of defects on 

in-line samples should be reported to the management and noted on DIR's. It is 

particularly important that packers be advised of apparently failing lots prior to 

offering these lots for delivery to Federal or State agencies so that the costs of 

reconditioning or segregation may be considered. 

I. Appeal Inspections 

The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers do not permit reinspection 

of rejected lots prior to reconditioning or segregation of rejected portions. AMS 

Instructions similarly prohibit such reinspections. However, at the applicant's 

request, an appeal inspection may be made of the prior to segregation or 

reconditioning in accordance with Division policy. 

In addition to granting an appeal inspection, the officer-in-charge or supervisor 

may review samples with the inspector and applicant in order to verify the 

interpretation of defects. If it is apparent that the inspector was unduly critical in 

classifying defects, the lot may be re-evaluated for acceptance. 

J. Reinspections 

Request for reinspections for condition of container are normally made by a 

receiving activity (USDA or DLA) for items at a destination location. 

The following procedures will apply: 

1. Sampling will be in accordance with sample plans for normal condition of 

container, Table I. 

2. Type of plan - Single plans only. 

-

3. Sample size - One size higher than the minimum required by the lot size 

being inspected. 

4. AQL - Use AQL's for "Other than Origin Inspection" 

(Critical 0.25; major 2.5; total 10.0). 

K. Lot Acceptance Criteria 

1. Stationary Lot 

The acceptability of stationary lots is determined by referring to the table 

of sampling plans used. For a given sample size, acceptance and rejection 

numbers are provided for critical, major, and total defects. Total defects 

include not only critical and major defects, but also any minor defects. 
 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 12 of 19 

Unless otherwise specified, AQLs for origin inspection shall be 0.25, 1.5, 

and 6.5 for critical, major, and total defects, respectively. 

Refer to the appropriate acceptance (Ac) and rejection (Re) numbers for 

the first sample set. 

a. If the sum of the critical, major, or total defects does not exceed 

“Ac,” the lot is considered acceptable. The acceptance number 

does not represent the number of defects that the sample should 

contain, but rather is the maximum number of defects permitted in 

a sample in order to consider a lot as meeting a specific 

requirement. 

b. If the sum of the critical, major, or total defects equals or exceeds 

“Re,” the lot fails. 

c. If the sum of the critical, major, or total defects exceeds “Ac,” but 

is less than “Re,” a second sample set is evaluated. The sum of 

each class of defects in the combined sample is compared with the 

acceptance and rejection numbers in the table for each AQL, and a 

positive decision is made to either accept or fail the lot. 

2. On-line Lot 

In many instances, food containers are loaded directly into carriers 

immediately after final packaging. This situation makes stationary lot 

sampling and inspection impractical. For such circumstances, the optional 

procedure for on-line sampling and inspection using cumulative sum 

sampling plans is provided. 

For details on how to perform this type of inspection, see section 42.130 in 

the Standards, 7 CFR 42 (which may be found at the following internet 

address: 

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

FR). For any additional questions, contact your immediate supervisor. 

Applying Procedures – Stationary Lot 

Example: A lot contains 2,000 cases of 24 No. 2 pint jars, or 48,000 total containers. 

The lot is to be inspected under normal inspection procedures. The lot is 

over 36,000 containers, so sampling plan code CD in Table I-A of the 

Standards is applicable. The first sample set is 228 containers as indicated 

under “Sample Size” opposite code CD. 
 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 13 of 19 

All 228 containers are examined and found to contain 15 minor, 4 major, 

and no critical defects, for a total of 19 defects. The lot can neither be 

accepted nor rejected on this sample for major or total defects because: 

• 4 defects fall between Ac = 3 and Re = 9 for major defects 

(AQL =1.5) 

• 19 defects fall between Ac = 15 and Re = 24 for total defects 

(AQL = 6.5) 

Therefore, a second sample set (288 containers) is examined, and the 

additional critical, major, and minor defects found are added to those 

found in the first sample. The defects found in the 516 containers total 33 

minor, 9 major, and 1 critical, for a total of 43 defects. 

The 1 critical, 9 major, and 43 total defects are all equal to or less than the 

acceptance (Ac) numbers of 3, 12, and 43 respectively; therefore the lot is 

accepted. 

Had the number of defects for any of the classes exceeded the applicable 

acceptance number however (for example, had the defects totaled 44 or 

more), the lot would FAIL condition of container requirements. 

See the next page for this example recorded on the Container Examination 

Worksheet. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 14 of 19 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

CONTAINER EXAMINATION WORKSHEET 

TABLE VI – GLASS CONTAINERS (Bottles, Jars) 

PRODUCT 

Canned Green Beans 

TYPE AND SIZE OF CONTAINER 

24/No. pint jars 

LOT NO. 

3 

LOT SIZE* 

48,000 jars 

CONTRACT NO. 

123456789 

Name and Address of Applicant 

Heartland Packers, Inc. 

Heartland, WI 

INSPECTION STATUS OF LOT* 

ORIGINAL RESUBMITTED 

INSPECTION POINT 

Plover, WI 

CODES AND APPROXIMATE NO. OF CONTAINERS PER CODE* 

See attached Certificate of Sampling. 

*As stated by applicant. 

SAMPLING PLAN USED 

No. of 

Sample 

Units 

CRITICAL MAJOR TOTAL 

(Minor, Critical, and Major Defects) 

Normal 

Tightened 

Reduced 

CODE__CD__ 

AQL: 0.25 

If other specify_____________ 

AQL: 1.5 

If other specify_____________ 

AQL: 6.5 

If other specify_____________ 

Ac Re Ac Re Ac Re 

First Sample 228 0 3 3 9 15 24 

Second Sample 288 

Total Sample 516 3 4 12 13 43 44 

Defect 

No. Type of Defect 1st Sample 2nd Sample Defect No. Type of Defect 1st Sample 2nd Sample 

Type or size of container or component parts not 

as specified NONE PERMITTED 2 Bird swing (glass appendage inside container) 

CRITICAL 

1 Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly 

(a) Heat processed 

CRITICAL 3 Broken or leaking container CRITICAL 

101 (b) Non-heat processed MAJOR 207 Cap (non-heat processed): 

(a) Cross-threaded 

Minor 

201 Dirty, stained, or smeared container Minor 208 (b) Loose but not leaking Minor 

202 Chip in glass Minor 106 (c) Pitted rust MAJOR 

203 Stone (unmelted material) in glass Minor 4 Cap (heat processed); 

Cross-threaded or loose 

CRITICAL 

204 Pits in surface of glass Minor 107 (b) Pitted rust MAJOR 

205 Sagging surface Minor 209 Sealing tape or cell band (when required): 

(a) Improperly placed 

Minor 

206 Bead (bubble within glass): 

(a) 1/8 inch to 1/16 inch in diameter 

Minor 108 (b) Not covering juncture of cap and glass MAJOR 

102 (b) Exceeding 1/8 inch in diameter MAJOR 109 (c) Ends overlap by less than 1/2 inch MAJOR 

103 Checked MAJOR 110 (d) Loose or deteriorating MAJOR 

104 Thin spot in glass MAJOR 111 Missing or torn outer safety seal MAJOR 

105 Blister (structural defect) MAJOR 112 Inner safety seal - missing , torn, poor seal MAJOR 

TABLE XI – LABEL, MARKING, OR CODE 

101 Not specified method MAJOR 202 Torn or mutilated Minor 

102 Missing (when required) MAJOR 203 Text illegible or incomplete Minor 

103 Torn or scratched, obliterating any marking on 

the label 

MAJOR 204 In wrong location Minor 

104 Incorrect MAJOR OTHER (Specify) 

201 Loose or improperly applied Minor 

Minor Major Critical Total ACTION TAKEN BASED ON FIRST SAMPLE 

LOT ACCEPTED LOT REJECTED SECOND SAMPLE First sample 15 4 0 19 

Second sample 18 5 1 24 ACTION TAKEN ON SECOND SAMPLE (If required) 

LOT ACCEPTED LOT REJECTED Grand total 33 9 1 43 

DATE INSPECTED 

January 29, 2013 

SIGNATURE OF INSPECTOR (Print and Sign Name) 

Jared King Jared King 

EXAMPLE (passing lot) 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 15 of 19 

OTHER THAN ORIGIN INSPECTION AQL’S 

Other Than Origin Inspection AQL’s are applicable when performing a re-inspection of a 

reconditioned lot, or when specifically requested by a financially-interested party. 

When the inspector performs a re-inspection, the procedure for applying Other Than Origin 

Inspection AQL’s is as follows. 

The defective portion of the lot should be segregated before the remaining portion of the lot is 

offered for re-inspection. The defective portion may be reconditioned or reworked, and offered 

as a “new” lot for inspection. Whenever the inspector is requested to perform a re-inspection, 

the applicable sampling plan for tightened inspection is to be used. 

Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, the AQL’s used for respective classes of defects 

shall be those contained in Lot Acceptance Criteria, 7 CFR 42.107(b), which are 0.25 for critical, 

2.5 for major, and 10.0 for total. 

CONDITION OF GLASS CONTAINERS - GUIDELINE FOR SCORING LOOSE CAPS 

Table VI - Glass Containers, of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers lists "Loose 

but not leaking" caps as a minor defect, number 208. 

If a cap or lid is obviously loose it shall be scored as a defect. Unless otherwise specified in a 

contract, purchase announcement, or specification, the following guideline may be used to 

determine tightness of closure on questionable containers: 

Bring the container to between 65 - 75 degrees F. Place the container upright on top of a stable, 

level surface. Grasp the sides of the cap firmly with fingertips and turn cap gently-clockwise 

with a minimum of downward pressure for complete revolution. If cap turns and the container 

remains stationary, a defect shall be scored. This is only a guideline, if a cap or lid is obviously 

loose it shall be scored as a defect. 

CLARIFICATION REGARDING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTAINER 

DESIGNATION IN THE U.S. STANDARDS FOR CONDITION OF FOOD 

CONTAINERS 

Primary containers are inspected visually for all recordable defects. The primary container is 

defined in the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers as “The immediate container in 

which the product is packaged and which serves to protect, preserve, and maintain the condition 

of the product. The primary container may be metal, glass, fiber, textile, plastic, paper, or any 

other suitable type of material, and may be supplemented by liners, overwraps, or other 

protective material.” Usually the primary container is in direct contact with the product. An 

exception to this would be a fiberboard case or metal drum which contains a poly liner. The 

liner is in contact with the product, but the case or drum is considered the primary container. 
 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 16 of 19 

Examples of primary containers: 

1. A plastic 2.5 lb. bag of frozen green beans; 

2. A plastic vacuum sealed 30 lb. bag of frozen apricots; 

3. A metal beaded bodied #10 can of pineapple; 

4. A new 30 lb. plastic pail filled with frozen 5+1 red tart pitted cherries; 

5. A 20 lb. fiber board case with poly liner of frozen lima beans; and 

6. A poly lined 55 gallon drum of concentrated apple juice. 

The secondary container is defined in the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers as 

“The container in which one or more primary containers are packaged. For example, a shipping 

case containing canned product.” The secondary container is not in direct contact with the 

product, but rather is used to protect, preserve, and maintain the condition of the product or 

primary containers of the product during transit or storage. An example would be a shipping 

case (secondary container) containing canned peas (primary container). 

When performing condition of container examinations, examine both the primary and secondary 

containers (as applicable) using the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers and 

applicable visual inspection aids. 

RECORDING INFORMATION AND RESULTS ON CONTAINER EXAMINATION 

WORKSHEETS 

In the box titled Type and Size of Container describe the type and size of the actual primary 

containers or in the case of secondary container inspection the secondary containers examined. 

PRODUCT TYPE AND SIZE OF CONTAINER 

6- # 10 cans 

LOT NO. LOT SIZE* CONTRACT NO. 

In the box titled Codes and Approximate No. of Containers per Code list the primary container 

codes and approximate number of containers or specify the number of secondary containers. If 

there are multiple codes contained in the lot it is acceptable to reference an attached document 

for a complete list of codes. See the example shown on page 14 of this manual. 

INSPECTION STATUS OF LOT * 

ORIGINAL RESUBMITTED 

INSPECTION POINT 

CODES AND APPROXIMATE NO. OF CONTAINERS PER CODE 

M2431 (1008 cases) and M2441 (1008cases). 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 17 of 19 

In the box titled Sampling Plan Used mark the inspection status used – Normal, Tightened or 

Reduced and record the sampling plan and its code as it appears in the Standards. 

SAMPLING PLAN USED No. of 

Sample Normal CODE CC Units 

First Sample 168 Tightened 

Second Sample 180 

Reduced Total Sample 348

If other than origin AQL’s are used, they must be specified. 

CRITICAL MAJOR TOTAL 

(Minor, Critical, and Major Defects) 

AQL: 0.25 

If other specify_____________ 

AQL: 1.5 

If other specify 2.5 

AQL: 6.5 

If other specify 10.0 

Results are recorded on condition of container worksheets. When the condition of container 

examination for a lot is accepted or rejected based on the first sample, the instructions state “List 

the number of defects found in all samples. If only the first sample is used, do not fill in the 

grand total.” It is Division policy to draw a line through any tally box not filled in during the 

inspection process. Draw lines through the empty tally rows entitled “Second Sample” and 

“Grand Total” at the bottom of the condition of container worksheet - see example below. This 

will maintain the integrity of the inspection, and reduce the potential for future alterations to the 

worksheet. 

Example: 

MINOR MAJOR CRITICAL TOTAL 

First sample 7 2 0 9 

Second sample 

Grand total 

DATE INSPECTED 5/19/10 

If a second sample is needed, total all defects from the 1st and 2nd samples in the “Grand total” 

row. 

An example of a lot FAILING Condition of Container examination is shown on the next page. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 18 of 19 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

CONTAINER EXAMINATION WORKSHEET 

TABLE VI – GLASS CONTAINERS (Bottles, Jars) 

PRODUCT 

Canned Green Beans 

TYPE AND SIZE OF CONTAINER 

24/No. pint jars 

LOT NO. 

3 

LOT SIZE* 

48,000 jars 

CONTRACT NO. 

123456789 

Name and Address of Applicant 

Heartland Packers, Inc. 

Heartland, WI 

INSPECTION STATUS OF LOT* 

ORIGINAL RESUBMITTED 

INSPECTION POINT 

Plover, WI 

CODES AND APPROXIMATE NO. OF CONTAINERS PER CODE* 

See attached Certificate of Sampling. 

*As stated by applicant. 

SAMPLING PLAN USED 

No. of 

Sample 

Units 

CRITICAL MAJOR TOTAL 

(Minor, Critical, and Major Defects) 

Normal 

Tightened 

Reduced 

CODE__CD__ 

AQL: 0.25 

If other specify_____________ 

AQL: 1.5 

If other specify_____________ 

AQL: 6.5 

If other specify_____________ 

Ac Re Ac Re Ac Re 

First Sample 228 0 3 3 9 15 24 

Second Sample 288 

Total Sample 516 3 4 12 13 43 44 

Defect 

No. Type of Defect 1st Sample 2nd Sample Defect No. Type of Defect 1st Sample 2nd Sample 

Type or size of container or component parts not 

as specified NONE PERMITTED 2 Bird swing (glass appendage inside container) 

CRITICAL 

1 Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly 

(a) Heat processed 

CRITICAL 3 Broken or leaking container CRITICAL 

101 (b) Non-heat processed MAJOR 207 Cap (non-heat processed): 

(a) Cross-threaded 

Minor 

201 Dirty, stained, or smeared container Minor 208 (b) Loose but not leaking Minor 

202 Chip in glass Minor 106 (c) Pitted rust MAJOR 

203 Stone (unmelted material) in glass Minor 4 Cap (heat processed); 

Cross-threaded or loose 

CRITICAL 

204 Pits in surface of glass Minor 107 (b) Pitted rust MAJOR 

205 Sagging surface Minor 209 Sealing tape or cell band (when required): 

(a) Improperly placed 

Minor 

206 Bead (bubble within glass): 

(a) 1/8 inch to 1/16 inch in diameter 

Minor 108 (b) Not covering juncture of cap and glass MAJOR 

102 (b) Exceeding 1/8 inch in diameter MAJOR 109 (c) Ends overlap by less than 1/2 inch MAJOR 

103 Checked MAJOR 110 (d) Loose or deteriorating MAJOR 

104 Thin spot in glass MAJOR 111 Missing or torn outer safety seal MAJOR 

105 Blister (structural defect) MAJOR 112 Inner safety seal - missing , torn, poor seal MAJOR 

TABLE XI – LABEL, MARKING, OR CODE 

101 Not specified method MAJOR 202 Torn or mutilated Minor 

102 Missing (when required) MAJOR 203 Text illegible or incomplete Minor 

103 Torn or scratched, obliterating any marking on 

the label 

MAJOR 204 In wrong location Minor 

104 Incorrect MAJOR OTHER (Specify) 

201 Loose or improperly applied Minor 

Minor Major Critical Total ACTION TAKEN BASED ON FIRST SAMPLE 

LOT ACCEPTED LOT REJECTED SECOND SAMPLE First sample 16 4 0 20 

Second sample 20 5 1 24 ACTION TAKEN ON SECOND SAMPLE (If required) 

LOT ACCEPTED LOT REJECTED Grand total 36 9 1 46 

DATE INSPECTED 

January 29, 2013 

SIGNATURE OF INSPECTOR (Print and Sign Name) 

Jared King Jared King 

EXAMPLE (failing lot) 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCI Division Inspection Series Condition of Food Container Manual 

Effective Date: October 2013 Page 19 of 19 

Attachments Version Date 

(Printed for distribution) 

7 CFR 42: __________ 

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

Visual aids for use in determining the condition of metal food containers: __________ 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/processedinspection. 

Visual aids for use in determining the condition of glass food containers: __________ 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/processedinspection. 

Visual aids for use in determining the condition of flexible food containers: __________ 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/processedinspection. 

Visual aids for use in determining the condition of rigid and semi rigid food containers: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/processedinspection. __________ 

Checked Materials have been printed from the links in this Manual and included for 

reference.