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United States Standards

for Grades of 

Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash

Effective January 20, 2017
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (81 FR 93572) supersedes the previous issue which has been in 

effect since July 1, 1957.

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 Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (January 20, 2017)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and Canned Squash

Section Page No.

Product Description and Grades ................................................................................. 2

§52.2741 Product description...................................................................................... 2

§52.2742 Grades of canned pumpkin and canned squash. ........................................ 2

Fill of Container............................................................................................................. 2

§52.2743 Recommended fill of container. ................................................................... 2

Factors of Quality.......................................................................................................... 2

§52.2744 Ascertaining the grade................................................................................. 2

§52.2745 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored. ............................. 3

§52.2746 Color............................................................................................................ 3

§52.2747 Consistency................................................................................................. 4

§52.2748 Finish........................................................................................................... 4

§52.2749 Defects. ....................................................................................................... 5

Lot Certification Tolerances......................................................................................... 6

§52.2750 Tolerances for certification of officially drawn samples................................ 6

Score Sheet ................................................................................................................... 7

§52.2751 Score sheet for canned pumpkin and canned squash................................. 7
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (January 20, 2017)

2

Product Description and Grades

§52.2741 Product description.

Canned pumpkin and canned squash is the canned product prepared from clean, 

sound, properly matured, golden fleshed, firm shelled, sweet varieties of either 

pumpkins or squashes by washing, stemming, cutting, steaming and reducing to a pulp. 

The product is properly sieved and finished in accordance with good commercial 

practice and is then sufficiently processed by heat to assure preservation of the product 

in hermetically sealed containers.

§52.2742 Grades of canned pumpkin and canned squash.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of canned pumpkin or canned squash that possesses 

a good color; that possesses a good consistency; that possesses a good finish; 

that is practically free from defects; that possesses a normal flavor; and scores 

not less than 85 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system 

outlined in this subpart.

(b) U.S. Grade C is the quality of canned pumpkin or canned squash that possesses 

a fairly good color; that possesses a fairly good consistency; that possesses a 

fairly good finish; that is fairly free from defects; that possesses a normal flavor; 

and scores not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring 

system outlined in this subpart.

(c) Substandard is the quality of canned pumpkin or canned squash that fails to 

meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.

Fill of Container

§52.2743 Recommended fill of container.

The recommended fill of container is not incorporated in the grades of the finished 

product since fill of container, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these 

grades. It is recommended that each container be filled as full as practicable with 

pumpkin or squash and that the product occupy not less than 90 percent of the volume 

of the container.

Factors of Quality

§52.2744 Ascertaining the grade.

(a) General. In addition to considering other requirements outlined in the standards 

the following quality factors are evaluated:

(1) Factor which is not scored.

(i) Flavor.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (January 20, 2017)

3

(2) Factors which are scored. The relative importance of each factor which 

is scored is expressed numerically on the scale of 100. The maximum 

number of points that may be given such factors are:

Factors: Points

Color 20

Consistency 30

Finish 20

Defects 30

Total Score 100

(b) The product is scored for quality at a temperature of approximately 68 degrees 

Fahrenheit.

(c) Normal flavor means that the product is free from objectionable flavors or 

objectionable odors of any kind.

§52.2745 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored.

The essential variations within each factor which is scored are so described that the 

value may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. The numerical 

range within each factor which is scored is inclusive. (For example, 25 to 30 points 

means 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 points.)

§52.2746 Color.

(a) “A” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that possesses a good 

color may be given a score of 18 to 20 points.

Good color means that the product possesses a practically uniform bright color 

typical of canned pumpkin or canned squash prepared from well matured 

pumpkin or squash.

(b) “C” classification. If the canned pumpkin or canned squash possesses a fairly 

good color, a score of 14 to 17 points may be given. Canned pumpkin or canned 

squash that falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C

regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

Fairly good color means that the product possesses a color typical of fairly well 

matured pumpkin or squash and may possess a slight tinge of gray or tan color, 

may be variable or slightly dull but not to the extent that the appearance or eating 

quality is materially affected.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (January 20, 2017)

4

(c) “SStd” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that fails to meet the 

requirements of paragraph (b) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 13 

points and shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score 

for the product, (this is a limiting rule).

§52.2747 Consistency.

(a) “A” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that possesses a good 

consistency may be given a score of 25 to 30 points. 

Good consistency means that the canned pumpkin or canned squash, after 

emptying from the container to a dry-flat surface, retains the approximate shape 

of the container, or holds a high mound formation, and at the end of two minutes 

after emptying on such surface, the highest point of the mound is not less than 

60 percent of the height of the container, except with respect to No. 3 size can or 

larger the highest point of the mound is not less than 50 percent of the height of 

the container, and irrespective of can size not more than 10 cubic centimeters of 

free liquor separates for each 30 ounces of net contents.

(b) “C” classification. If the canned pumpkin or canned squash possesses a fairly 

good consistency, a score of 21 to 24 points may be given. Canned pumpkin or 

canned squash that falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. 

Grade C regardless of the total score for the product, (this is a limiting rule). 

Fairly good consistency means that the canned pumpkin or canned squash, 

after emptying from the container to a dry-flat surface, may flow just enough to 

level off to a nearly uniform depth or may be moderately mounded and at the end 

of two minutes after emptying on such surface, that not more than 30 cubic 

centimeters of free liquor separates for each 30 ounces of net contents.

(c) “SStd” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that fails to meet the 

requirements of paragraph (b) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 20 

points and shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score 

for the product, (this is a limiting rule).

§52.2748 Finish.

(a) General. The factor of finish refers to the texture of the product and evenness of 

the pumpkin or squash particles.

(b) “A” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that possesses a good 

finish may be given a score of 17 to 20 points.

Good finish means that the canned pumpkin or canned squash particles are 

evenly divided; and the product is fine grained and smooth; not pasty; and the

pumpkin or squash particles are not hard.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (January 20, 2017)

5

(c) “C” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that possesses a fairly 

good finish may be given a score of 14 to 16 points.

Fairly good finish means that the canned pumpkin or canned squash particles 

are evenly divided; that the product may be slightly coarse; may be slightly pasty 

but not decidedly pasty and the pumpkin or squash particles are not hard.

(d) “SStd” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that fails to meet the 

requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 13 

points and shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score 

for the product, (this is a limiting rule).

§52.2749 Defects.

(a) General. The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from sand, grit, or 

silt, pieces of seed, fiber, and coarse, dark or off-colored particles.

(1) Grit, sand, or silt means any particle of earthy material.

(b) “A” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that is practically free 

from defects may be given a score of 25 to 30 points.

Practically free from defects means that no grit, sand, or silt may be present 

that affects the appearance or eating quality of the canned pumpkin or canned 

squash, and that the number, size, or color of the aforesaid defects present, 

individually or collectively, do not more than slightly affect the appearance or 

eating quality of the product.

(c) “C” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that is fairly free from 

defects may be given a score of 21 to 24 points. Canned pumpkin or canned 

squash that falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C 

regardless of the total score for the product, (this is a limiting rule).

Fairly free from defects means a trace of grit, sand, or silt may be present that 

does not materially affect the appearance or eating quality of the canned 

pumpkin or canned squash, and that any of the other aforesaid defects present, 

individually or collectively, may be noticeable but are not so large, so numerous, 

or of such contrasting color as to seriously affect the appearance or eating quality 

of the product.

(d) “SStd” classification. Canned pumpkin or canned squash that fails to meet the 

requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 20 

points and shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score 

for the product, (this is a limiting rule).
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (January 20, 2017)

6

Lot Certification Tolerances

§52.2750 Tolerances for certification of officially drawn samples.

The grade of a lot of canned pumpkin or canned squash covered by these standards is 

determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection and 

Certification of Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Products Thereof, and 

Certain Other Processed Food Products (7 CFR 52.1 to 52.83; 22 F.R. 3535).
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pumpkin and 

Canned Squash (January 20, 2017)

7

Score Sheet

§52.2751 Score sheet for canned pumpkin and canned squash.

Number, size, and kind of container 

Container marks or identification

Label 

Net weight (ounces) 

Vacuum (inches)

Factors Grade Score Points

Color 20

“A” 18-20

“C” 14-171

“SStd” 0-131

Consistency 30

“A” 25-30

“C” 21-241

“SStd” 0-201

Finish 20

“A” 17-20

“C” 14-161

“SStd” 0-131

Defects 30

“A” 25-30

“C” 21-241

“SStd” 0-201

Total Score 100

Normal flavor and odor

U.S. Grade

1Indicates limiting rule.