FSC 8940

A-A-20262A

April 24, 2013

SUPERSEDING

A-A-20262

July 31, 1997

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

LASAGNA, CHEESE, FROZEN

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

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers frozen cheese lasagna, (lasagna), packed in commercially 

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

parties. 

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following:

- Style(s) and noodle type(s) of lasagna desired (Sec. 3).

- When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 7.1).

- When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 7.2).

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 10.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.4).

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following:

- Food Defense Section 10.1: Food Defense System Survey (FDSS) (Sec 10.1.1), or Food 

Defense Addendum to Plant Systems Audit (PSA) (Sec 10.1.2), or (Sec. 10.1.2 with 

10.2.1). 

- Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 10.2 with 10.2.1) or (Sec. 10.2 with 10.2.2).

- Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 11).

3. CLASSIFICATION. The lasagna shall conform to the following list which shall be 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

Styles and Noodle Types.

1

Style A - Regular

Style B - Lean (21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 101.62(e))

 

1 Not all options are available from every manufacturer. Check with the manufacturer/distributor for availability.

METRIC
A-A-20262A

2

Style C - Other2 (as specified by the purchaser)

Noodle type 1 - Made with wheat flour3

Noodle type 2 - Made with semolina flour3

Noodle type 3 - Made with durum flour3

Noodle type 4 - Other4 (as specified by the purchaser)

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

products shall meet the requirements of the:

- Processing guidelines (Sec. 5).

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 6).

- Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 7).

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 8).

- Regulatory requirements (Sec. 9).

- Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 10).

- Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 11).

5. PROCESSING GUIDELINES.

5.1 Processing. The lasagna shall be processed in accordance with Current Good 

Manufacturing Practices (21 CFR Part 110). 

5.2 Food security. The lasagna shall be processed and transported in accordance with the Food 

and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Guidance for Industry: Food Producers, Processors, and 

Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.

5

 This guidance identifies the 

kinds of preventive measures food manufacturers, processors, or handlers may take to minimize 

the risk that food under their control will be subject to tampering or other malicious, criminal, or 

terrorist actions. The implementation of enhanced food security preventive measures provides 

for the security of a plant’s production processes and includes the storage and transportation of 

pre-production raw materials, other ingredients, and postproduction finished product.

5.3 Age requirement. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order, the lasagna shall be manufactured not more than 90 days prior to delivery.

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

 

2 May include products making nutrient content claims that shall meet the applicable provisions of the Specific Requirements for Nutrient 

Content Claims (21 CFR Sections 101.54 through 101.65) 3 The lasagna noodles shall comply with the Allergen Declaration Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Section 

403(w)(1)).

4 Shall meet the Requirements for Specific Standardized Macaroni and Noodle Products. If used to specify a gluten-free product, the noodles 

shall comply with the Gluten-Free Labeling Requirements when they become finalized. 5

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm. 
A-A-20262A

3

6.1 Ingredients. The lasagna shall consist of cheese filling, sauce and spices, lasagna noodles,

and safe and suitable sweeteners and thickeners. All ingredients shall be declared by their 

common or usual name in descending order of predominance by weight (21 CFR § 101.4(a)) 

unless exempted by 21 CFR § 101.100.

6.1.1 Cheese filling. The cheese filling shall consist of ricotta and low moisture part-skim 

mozzarella (21 CFR § 133.158), and Parmesan (21 CFR § 133.165) cheeses, however, cottage 

cheese (21 CFR § 133.128) may be substituted for ricotta cheese. Romano (21 CFR § 133.183), 

Swiss (21 CFR § 133.195), American (pasteurized process cheese) (21 CFR §133.169, Cheddar

(21 CFR § 133.113), provolone (21 CFR § 133.181), fontina, asiago fresh and asiago soft (21 

CFR § 133.102), asiago medium (21 CFR § 133.103), asiago old cheese (21 CFR § 133.104), 

skim milk cheese (21 CFR §133.189), semisoft part-skim cheese (21 CFR §133.188), reduced fat

(21 CFR § 101.62(b)(4)), low fat (21 CFR 101.62(b)(2)), and parmesan paste may be included as 

optional cheeses. The cheese filling may contain egg products that shall comply with all 

applicable provisions of the Egg Products Inspection Act (9 CFR Part 590) and shall be declared 

on the food label in compliance with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act 

of 2004.6

6.1.2 Sauce and spices. The sauce shall contain tomato puree or tomato paste, diced tomatoes, 

sweeteners, and thickeners. The sauce may contain vegetable garnishes, salt, and spices, 

including garlic, onion powder and other spices common to tomato-based sauce.

6.1.3 Lasagna noodles. The lasagna noodles shall comply with the FDA Standard of Identity 

for Macaroni Products (21 CFR §139.110), or Enriched Macaroni Products (21 CFR § 139.115),

or Noodle Products (21 CFR § 139.150), or Enriched Noodle Products (21 CFR § 139.155).

6.1.4 Additional ingredients. The lasagna may contain food ingredients permitted by the FDA 

for thickening, emulsifying, stabilizing, preserving, or enhancing flavor. Food additives or 

generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances used shall be of Food Chemicals Codex Purity 

or US Pharmacopeia-National Formulary quality and meet the related FDA regulations on food 

additives or GRAS requirements. 

6.1.5 Foreign material. All ingredients shall be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from 

foreign material such as plastic pieces, evidence of rodent or insect infestation, and metal 

contaminants, including, but not limited to, ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel. All tomato

products shall comply with the defect action levels specified in the FDA Defect Levels

Handbook currently in effect on the date of the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

6.2 Finished product. The finished lasagna shall show no evidence of spoilage, thawing and 

refreezing, or excessive heating (materially scorched).

 

6 http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/Allergens/ucm106890.htm
A-A-20262A

4

6.2.1 Appearance. The lasagna shall have distinct layers extending the full length and width of 

the container. The overall appearance shall not be mushy or pasty and there shall not be 

excessive oil separation from the product. There shall be no foreign color to the product.

6.2.2 Aroma and flavor. The lasagna shall have an aroma and flavor characteristic of prepared 

lasagna with cheese. There shall be no foreign odors or flavors such as, but not limited to, burnt, 

scorched, stale, rancid, or moldy.

6.2.3 Texture. The texture of the lasagna noodles shall not be rubbery, mushy, or pasty. The 

sauce shall not be excessively thin, thick, or pasty. The cheese filling shall be smooth and of 

uniform consistency.

7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS.

7.1 Analytical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the lasagna shall comply with the following ranges and tolerances:

Test Tolerance

Monosodium glutamate Less than 2.27 g per 227 g or 8 oz (1 percent) of 

(MSG) finished product

Fat Less than 18.0 g per 227 g or 8 oz of finished

product

Sodium Less than 1,100 mg per 227 g or 8 oz of finished

product

Standard Plate Count Less than 50,000 per g

Escherichia coli Less than 3 per g using Most Probable Number

(E. coli) (MPN) or less than 10 Colony Forming Units

(CFU) per g

E. coli O157:H7 Shall be negative

Listeria monocytogenes Shall be negative

(L. monocytogenes)

Salmonella Shall be negative

7.2 Product verification sampling. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing shall be performed on 

a composite sample. The composite sample shall be 1.134 kg (2.5 lb) per lot, prepared from a 

minimum of sixty representative subsamples or retail packages randomly selected from the lot. 

7.3 Analytical testing. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the 

analyses shall be made in accordance with the following methods from the AOAC International 

Official Methods of Analysis (OMA) or the FDA’s Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) as 

specified below:
A-A-20262A

5

Test Method

MSG 970.37

Fat 991.36, 2007.04, or 2008.06

Sodium 985.35 or 984.27

 Standard Plate Count 990.12 or BAM Ch 3

 E. coli 991.14, 998.08, 2011.17, or BAM Ch 4

 E. coli O157:H7 2000.14, 2005.03, or BAM Ch 4A

 L. monocytogenes 999.06, 2003.12, 2004.02, 2010.02, or BAM Ch 10

 Salmonella 967.25, 967.27, 996.08, 2003.09, 2004.03, 2011.03,

2011.17, or BAM Ch 5

7.4 Test results. Test results for MSG shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent. Test results 

for fat shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 g. Test results for sodium shall be reported to the 

nearest mg. The test results for standard plate count shall be reported to the nearest 100 CFU per 

g. The test results for E. coli shall be reported to the nearest MPN or CFU. The test results for 

E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella shall be reported as positive or negative. 

Any result not conforming to the analytical requirements shall be cause for rejection of the lot.

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

distributor shall certify that the lasagna provided meets the salient characteristics of this CID, 

conforms to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and is the same 

lasagna offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to require 

proof of conformance.

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. When applicable, the egg for the lasagna shall have 

been processed according to the provisions of the Egg Products Inspection Act and regulations 

promulgated thereunder. The delivered lasagna shall comply with all applicable Federal and 

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

storage, distribution, and sale of the lasagna in the commercial marketplace. Delivered lasagna

shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the 

Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. When a known 

allergen is included in the lasagna, the lasagna shall comply with the allergen labeling 

requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. When the lasagna is used for the 

National School Lunch Program, the lasagna shall comply with all applicable provisions of the 

Child Nutrition (CN) Programs. 

10. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 10.3, or 10.4; 

purchaser may specify 10.1 with 10.1.1, 10.1 with 10.1.2, 10.1.2 with 10.2.1, 10.2 with 10.2.1, or 

10.2 with 10.2.2.

10.1 Food defense. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS shall 

be conducted by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Fruit and Vegetable Program 
A-A-20262A

6

(FV), Specialty Crops Inspection Division (SCI). Food defense requirements include a 

documented and operational food defense plan that provides for the security of a plant’s 

production processes and includes the storage and transportation of pre-production raw materials 

and other ingredients and postproduction finished product. The plan shall address the following 

areas: (1) food security plan management; (2) outside and inside security of the production and 

storage facilities; (3) slaughter, when applicable, and processing, including all raw material 

sources; (4) shipping and receiving; (5) storage; (6) water and ice supply; (7) mail handling; (8) 

personnel security; and (9) transportation, shipping, and receiving.

10.1.1 FDSS. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS shall be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI. The FDSS verifies that operators of food establishments 

have implemented measures to minimize the risk of tampering or other criminal actions against 

the food under their control. (An AMS, FDSS verifies the participating company’s adherence to 

the FDA’s “Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food 

Security Preventive Measures Guidance.”) For further information, see section 13.1 and 13.3.2.

10.1.2 Food defense addendum to PSA. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, a food defense addendum shall be conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI auditors. 

This verifies that operators of food establishments have implemented measures to minimize the 

risk of tampering or other criminal actions against the food under their control. (An AMS, FDSS, 

PSA verifies the participating company’s adherence to the FDA’s “Guidance for Industry - Food 

Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.”) For 

further information, see section 13.1 and 13.3.2.

10.2 Manufacturer’s quality assurance. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the product manufacturer shall be required to provide evidence, by certificate, 

that the manufacturing plant has undertaken one of the following quality assurance measures 

within 12 months prior to providing a bid, or no later than 10 business days from the date of the 

awarding of the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame 

may result in the contract being terminated for cause.

10.2.1 PSA. A PSA conducted by USDA, AMS, or other audit performed by a third party 

auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the contract. 

(An AMS PSA verifies the manufacturer's capability to produce products in a clean sanitary 

environment in accordance with 21 CFR Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice in 

Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, and verifies that the manufacturer has in 

place an internal quality assurance program.) 

10.2.2 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA, AMS, or other survey performed by 

a third party auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the 

contract. (An AMS plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of the survey, the manufacturer 

produces products in a clean sanitary environment in accordance with 21 CFR Part 110 -

Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.)
A-A-20262A

7

10.3 Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, 

or purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor shall certify that the lasagna distributed meets or 

exceeds the requirements of this CID.

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

product quality and acceptability or both be determined, the SCI, FV, AMS, USDA, shall be the 

certifying program. SCI inspectors shall certify the quality and acceptability of the lasagna in 

accordance with SCI procedures, which include selecting random samples of the lasagna

evaluating the samples for conformance with the salient characteristics of this CID and other 

contractual requirements, and documenting the findings on official SCI score sheets or 

certificates. In addition, when required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, SCI

inspectors will examine the lasagna for conformance to the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food 

Containers (7 CFR Part 42) in effect on the date of the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

11. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking shall be 

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

12. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 10.4 is specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, USDA certification shall include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of samples of lasagna and compliance with requirements in the following areas:

- Processing guidelines (Sec. 5).

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 6).

- Analytical requirements when specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order

(Sec. 7). When USDA analytical testing is specified, SCI inspection personnel shall select 

samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology Programs (S&TP) 

laboratory for analysis.

- Packaging requirements (Sec. 11 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order).

13. REFERENCE NOTES.

13.1 USDA certification, FDSS, Plant Survey, and PSA contact. For a USDA certification, 

FDSS, Plant Survey, and PSA, contact the Chief, Inspection Branch, SCI, FV, AMS, USDA, 

STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, telephone (202) 

720-2482, fax (202) 720-0393, or via E-mail: Nathaniel.Taylor@ams.usda.gov.

13.2 Analytical testing and technical information contact. For USDA technical information 

on analytical testing, contact a member of the Technical Service Staff, S&TP, AMS, USDA, 

STOP 0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0272, telephone (202) 

690-0621 or via E-mail: Alan.Post@ams.usda.gov or Ruihong.Guo@ams.usda.gov.
A-A-20262A

8

13.3 Sources of documents.

13.3.1 Sources of information for nongovernmental documents are as follows:

Copies of the AOAC International OMA may be obtained from: AOAC International, 481 

North Frederick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2417, telephone (301) 924-

7077. Internet address: http://www.aoac.org for nonmembers and 

http://www.eoma.aoac.org for members and AOAC OMA subscribers. 

Copies of the Food Chemicals Codex and U.S. Pharmacopeia may be purchased from: United 

States Pharmacopeia Convention, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20877, 

telephone (800) 227-8772 or (301) 881-0666, Fax (301) 816-8148 or on the Internet at: 

http://www.usp.org. 

13.3.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Applicable provisions of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers are contained in 7 

CFR Part 42, the Egg Products Inspection Act in 9 CFR Part 590, the Fair Packaging and 

Labeling Act are contained in 16 CFR Parts 500 to 503, and the Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1 to 199. These documents may be purchased from: 

Superintendent of Documents, New Orders, P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. 

Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover/ NOVUS, and American Express) purchases may 

be made by calling the Superintendent of Documents on (866) 512-1800, (202) 512-1800. 

These documents may also be obtained free of charge on the Internet at: 

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

Copies of Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security 

Preventive Measures Guidance is available online from: FDA, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) on the Internet at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation

/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm.

Copies of the FDA Defect Level Handbook are available online from FDA at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocument

s/Sanitation/ucm056174.htm.

Copies of the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) are available online from FDA at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/ScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/BacteriologicalAnalyticalM

anualBAM/default.htm.

Copies of this CID, the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42), and 

beneficial comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc. and any data 
A-A-20262A

9

which may improve this CID are available from or provided to: Chief, Standardization 

Branch, SCI, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 

DC 20250-0240, telephone (202) 720-5021, Fax (202) 690-1527, via E-mail: 

CIDS@ams.usda.gov, or on the Internet at: 

www.ams.usda.gov/CommercialItemDescription.

CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

DOJ - BOP

HHS - NIH, FDA

USDA - FV

VA - OSS

PREPARING ACTIVITY:

USDA - FV

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the 

bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, 

familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected 

genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to 

all programs and/or employment activities.) 

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found 

online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also 

write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 

690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.