Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing 

Service

Specialty

Crops

Program

Specialty

Crops

Inspection

Division

United States Standards

for Grades of Canned 

Field Peas and Canned 

Black-eye Peas

Effective January 20, 2017
This issue of the United States for Grades of Canned Field Peas and Canned Blackeye Peas (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 Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas (January 20, 2017)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas

Section Page No.

Identity and Grades....................................................................................................... 2

§52.1641 Identity......................................................................................................... 2

§52.1642 Grades of canned peas. .............................................................................. 2

Fill of Container and Drained Weights ........................................................................ 3

§52.1643 Recommended fill of container. ................................................................... 3

§52.1644 Recommended drained weight. ................................................................... 3

Factors of Quality.......................................................................................................... 3

§52.1645 Ascertaining the grade................................................................................. 3

§52.1646 Ascertaining the rating of each factor. ......................................................... 4

§52.1647 Color............................................................................................................ 4

§52.1648 Absence of defects. ..................................................................................... 4

§52.1649 Character..................................................................................................... 5

Lot Inspection and Certification................................................................................... 6

§52.1650 Ascertaining the grade of a lot..................................................................... 6

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

§52.1651 Score sheet for canned field peas and canned black-eye peas................... 7
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas (January 20, 2017)

2

Identity and Grades

§52.1641 Identity.

(a) Canned field peas means canned field peas as defined in the definitions and 

standards of identity for canned vegetables (21 CFR 155.200), issued pursuant 

to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

(b) Canned black-eye peas means canned black-eye peas as defined in the 

definitions and standards of identity for canned vegetables (21 CFR 155.200), 

issued pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

(c) Canned peas means canned field peas or canned black-eye peas.

(d) Snap or snaps means a piece or pieces of immature unshelled pods.

(e) Canned peas without snaps means canned peas which do not contain 

immature unshelled pods or pieces thereof.

(f) Canned peas with snaps means canned peas which contain pieces of 

immature unshelled pods.

(g) Unit means an individual field pea or black-eye pea or a piece of immature 

unshelled pod of either.

§52.1642 Grades of canned peas.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of canned peas that possess similar varietal 

characteristics; that possess a normal flavor and odor; that are fairly young; that 

are practically free from defects; that possess at least a fairly good color; and that 

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 peas that possess similar varietal 

characteristics; that possess a normal flavor and odor; that possess a fairly good 

color; that are nearly mature; that are fairly free from defects; and that 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 peas that fail to meet the requirements of 

U.S. Grade C.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas (January 20, 2017)

3

Fill of Container and Drained Weights

§52.1643 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 of canned peas be filled with field peas

or black-eye peas as full as practicable without impairment of quality and that the 

product and packing medium occupy not less than 90 percent of the total capacity of the 

container.

§52.1644 Recommended drained weight.

The drained weight recommendations in Table I of this section are not incorporated in 

the grades of the finished product since drained weight as such is not a factor of quality

for the purpose of these grades. The drained weight of canned peas is determined by 

emptying the contents of the container upon a No. 8 sieve of proper diameter and allow 

draining for 2 minutes. A sieve 8 inches in diameter is used for the No. 2 1/2 size can 

(401 x 411) and smaller sizes; and a sieve 12 inches in diameter is used for containers 

larger than the No. 2 1/2 size can.

Table I – Recommended minimum drained weight, in ounces, of field peas or

black-eye peas, including snaps when canned with snaps

Container size or designation: Ounces

No. 1 (Picnic) 7

No. 1 Tall 10-1/2

No. 300 9-1/4

No. 303 11

No. 2 13-1/4

No. 10 72

Factors of Quality

§52.1645 Ascertaining the grade.

(a) The grade of canned peas may be ascertained by considering, in conjunction 

with the requirements of the respective grade, the respective ratings of the 

factors of color, absence of defects, and character.

(b) The relative importance of each factor is expressed numerically on the scale of 

100. The maximum number of points that may be given each factor is:
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas (January 20, 2017)

4

Factors: Points

Color 20

Absence of Defects 30

Character 30

Total Score 100

(c) Normal flavor and odor means that the canned peas are free from 

objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

§52.1646 Ascertaining the rating of each factor.

The essential variations within each factor are so described that the value may be 

ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. The numerical range within 

each factor is inclusive (for example, 15 to 20 points means 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. or 20 

points).

§52.1647 Color.

(a) “A” classification. Canned peas that possess a good color may be given a 

score of 15 to 20 points.

Good color means that the canned peas possess a fairly uniform color and are 

typical of fairly young field peas or black-eye peas of similar varietal 

characteristics.

(b) “C” classification. Canned peas that possess a fairly good color may be given 

a score of 10 to 14 points.

Fairly good color means that the canned peas possess a color that may be 

variable and typical of nearly mature field peas or black-eye peas of similar 

varietal characteristics.

(c) “SStd” classification. Canned peas that are definitely off color for any reason 

or fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section may be given a 

score of 0 to 9 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of 

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

§52.1648 Absence of defects.

(a) General. The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from 

extraneous vegetable matter, from loose skins and pieces of skins, loose 

cotyledons and pieces of cotyledons, mashed or broken units, and units 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas (January 20, 2017)

5

blemished by pathological injury, insect injury, or other means.

(1) Extraneous vegetable matter means hulls or pieces of hulls, unshelled 

pods or pieces of unshelled pods (except in peas canned with snaps), 

leaves, stems, and other similar vegetable matter.

(2) Mashed or broken means seriously crushed so that the unit has lost its 

original conformation or is broken to the extent that a cotyledon or portion 

thereof has become separated from the unit.

(3) Blemished means discolored or spotted by pathological injury, insect 

injury, or other means to such an extent that the appearance or eating 

quality of the unit is materially affected.

(b) “A” classification. Canned peas that are practically free from defects may be 

given a score of 35 to 40 points.

Practically free from defects means that for each 12 ounces drained weight of 

units there may be present not more than 2 pieces of extraneous vegetable 

matter, and the combined weight of all loose skins and pieces of cotyledons, and 

mashed or broken units does not exceed 5 percent, and the weight of blemished 

units does not exceed 2 percent of the drained weight of the canned peas.

(c) “C” classification. If the canned peas are fairly free from defects, a score of 30 

to 34 points may be given. Canned peas that fall 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 that for each 12 ounce drained weight of units 

there may be present not more than 4 pieces of extraneous vegetable matter, 

and the combined weight of all loose skins and pieces of cotyledons, and 

mashed or broken units does not exceed 10 percent, and the weight of 

blemished units does not exceed 6 percent of the drained weight of the canned 

peas.

(d) “SStd” classification. Canned peas that fail to meet the requirements of 

paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 29 points and shall not 

be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this 

is a limiting rule).

§52.1649 Character.

(a) General. This factor refers to the tenderness and maturity of the canned peas.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas (January 20, 2017)

6

(b) “A” classification. Canned peas that are fairly young may be given a score of 

35 to 40 points.

Fairly young means the units are tender and in a fairly early stage of maturity.

(c) “C” classification. If the field peas or black-eye peas are nearly mature, a 

score of 30 to 34 points may be given. Canned peas that fall 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).

Nearly mature means that the units are fairly tender and may be mealy but not 

hard.

(d) “SStd” classification. Canned peas that fail to meet the requirements of 

paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 29 points, and shall not 

be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this 

is a limiting rule).

Lot Inspection and Certification

§52.1650 Ascertaining the grade of a lot.

The grade of a lot of canned field peas and canned black-eye peas 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 through 52.83, 22 

F.R. 3535).
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Field Peas and 

Canned Black-Eye Peas (January 20, 2017)

7

Score Sheet

§52.1651 Score sheet for canned field peas and canned black-eye peas.

Number, size, and kind of container 

Container marks or identification 

Label 

Net weight (ounces) 

Vacuum (inches)

Drained weight (ounces)

Style

Factors Grade Score Points

Color 20

“A” 15-20

“C” 10-14

“SStd” 0-91

Absence of defects 40

“A” 35-40

“C” 30-341

“SStd” 0-291

Character 40

“A” 35-40

“C” 30-341

“SStd” 0-291

Total Score 100

Normal flavor and odor

U.S. Grade

1Indicates limiting rule.