Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing 

Service

Specialty 

Crops

Program

Specialty

Crops

Inspection

Division

United States Standards

for Grades of Canned 

Leafy Greens

Effective January 20, 2017
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens 

(81 FR 93572) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since 

September 1, 1973.

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 Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens

Section Page No.

Product Description...................................................................................................... 2

§52.6081 Product description...................................................................................... 2

Types, Styles, and Grades............................................................................................ 2

§52.6082 Types........................................................................................................... 2

§52.6083 Styles........................................................................................................... 2

§52.6084 Grades......................................................................................................... 3

Definitions of Terms and Symbols .............................................................................. 3

§52.6085 Definitions of terms and symbols................................................................. 3

Fill of Container............................................................................................................. 4

§52.6086 Recommended fill of container. ................................................................... 4

§52.6087 Recommended drained weights. ................................................................. 4

Factors of Quality and Sample Unit Size..................................................................... 5

§52.6088 Factors of quality. ........................................................................................ 5

§52.6089 Sample unit size. ......................................................................................... 6

Product Characteristics................................................................................................ 6

§52.6090 Classification of defects............................................................................... 6

§52.6091 Tolerances for Defects............................................................................... 11

Lot Acceptance ........................................................................................................... 14

§52.6092 Lot acceptance for drained weights. .......................................................... 14

§52.6093 Lot acceptance for quality.......................................................................... 14

Score Sheet ................................................................................................................. 16

§52.6094 Score sheet for canned leafy greens. ........................................................ 16
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

2

Product Description

§52.6081 Product description.

Canned Leafy Greens (other than spinach), means the product properly prepared 

from the succulent leaves of any one of the plants listed under §52.6082 Types and 

packed with the addition of water in hermetically sealed containers and sufficiently 

processed by heat to prevent spoilage. The products may be acidified and/or seasoned 

with one or more of the acidifying or seasoning ingredients and in a quantity permitted 

under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Types, Styles, and Grades

§52.6082 Types.

(a) The following types are defined under the Standards of Identity for Canned 

Vegetables (21 CFR 155.200) issued pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act:

(1) Collards.

(2) Kale.

(3) Mustard Greens.

(4) Turnip greens.

(b) Other types included in this subpart, but not covered by the Standards of Identity 

for Canned Vegetables are:

(1) Mixed leafy greens – consists of a substantial mixture of any two of the 

types listed in paragraph (a) of this section.

(2) Poke salad – consists of leaves and adjoining stem of the pokeberry plant 

(Phytolocca Americana).

§52.6083 Styles.

(a) Whole leaf consists substantially of the whole leaf and adjoining portion of stem.

(b) Cut or sliced consists of the leaves and adjoining portion of stem that has been 

cut predominantly into large pieces approximating 3/4 inch or more in the longest 

dimension or cut predominantly into approximate strips.

(c) Chopped consists of the leaves and adjoining portions of the stem that have 

been cut predominantly into small pieces less than approximately 3/4 inch in the 

longest dimension.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

3

§52.6084 Grades.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of the product that has a good flavor and odor 

characteristic of the type and has an attractive appearance and eating quality 

within the limitations as specified in the subpart with respect to:

(1) Color.

(2) Character.

(3) Damage.

(4) Harmless extraneous material.

(b) U.S. Grade B is the quality of the product that has a good flavor and odor 

characteristic of the type and has a reasonably attractive appearance and eating 

quality within the limitations as specified in the subpart with respect to:

(1) Color.

(2) Character.

(3) Damage.

(4) Harmless extraneous material.

(c) Substandard is the quality of the product that fails to meet the requirements for 

U.S. Grade B.

Definitions of Terms and Symbols

§52.6085 Definitions of terms and symbols.

(a) Terms.

(1) Defect. Any specifically defined variation from a particular requirement.

(2) Deviant. A sample unit that exceeds an upper limit (such as for various 

defect classifications) or fails to meet a lower limit (such as drained 

weights).

(3) Sample. Any number of sample units to be used for inspection of a lot.

(4) Sample unit. The entire contents of a container, a portion of the contents 

of a container, or a combination of the contents of two or more containers 

as specified to be used for inspection.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

4

(5) Sample average value. The numerical value calculated by dividing the 

total number of applicable defects in a sample by the total number of 

sample units in that sample.

(b) Symbols.

(1) X d – Minimum sample average drained weight.

(2) LL – Lower limit for individual drained weights.

(3) UL – Upper limit is the value which represents the maximum number of 

defects a sample unit may have for a grade classification.

Fill of Container

§52.6086 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. The recommended fill of container for canned leafy greens is the maximum 

amount of product that can be sealed in a container and processed by heat to a point of 

proper sterilization without impairment of quality. It is recommended that the product 

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

container.

§52.6087 Recommended drained weights.

(a) General. The recommended drained weight values in Table I of this subpart 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.

(b) Method for ascertaining drained weight.

(1) The drained weight of canned leafy greens is determined when the 

product is at approximately room temperature (68°

F.). The contents of the 

containers are emptied upon a dry, previously weighed U.S. Standard 

No.8 circular sieve of proper diameter containing 8 meshes to the inch 

(0.0937, ±3 percent, square openings). With the sieve flat on the tray, the 

container of product is placed open end down in the sieve in an upright 

position. The container is lifted off the product without spreading the 

product out on the sieve. The product is allowed to drain for exactly two 

minutes. The weight of the product and sieve minus the weight of the dry 

sieve is the drained weight of the product.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

5

(2) A sieve 8 inches in diameter is used for the equivalent of a No. 3 size can 

(404 x 700) and smaller and a sieve 12 inches in diameter is used for 

containers larger than the equivalent of a No. 3 size can.

Table I 

Recommended Minimum Drained Weights for Canned Leafy Greens

Container 

designation (metal, 

unless otherwise 

stated)

Container size overall 

dimensions

Capacity -

weight H20 at 

68° F. 

(avoirdupois 

ounces)

Minimum 

drained weight 

(avoirdupois 

Diameter ounces)

(inches)

Height

(inches)

8Z tall 2-11/16 3-4/16 8.65 4.8 5.2

No. 1 picnic 2-11/16 4 10.90 6.3 6.8

No. 300 3 4-7/16 15.20 8.6 9.1

No. 1 Tall 3-1/16 4-11/16 16.60 9.4 10.0

No. 303 3-3/16 4-6/16 16.85 9.6 10.2

No. 303 glass -- -- 17.70 9.4 10.0

No. 2 3-7/16 4-9/16 20.50 11.9 12.6

No. 2 1/2 4-1/16 4-11/16 29.75 17.6 18.6

No. 2 1/2 glass -- -- 29.50 15.8 16.6

No. 10 6-3/16 7 109.45 54.7 58.4

Factors of Quality and Sample Unit Size

§52.6088 Factors of quality.

The grade of a lot of canned leafy greens is based on requirements for product 

characteristics with respect to the following quality factors:

(a) Flavor and odor.

(b) Color.

(c) Character.

(d) Damage.

(e) Harmless extraneous material.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

6

§52.6089 Sample unit size.

(a) Compliance with the factors of flavor and odor, color, and character may be 

determined on:

(1) The contents of an entire container, or

(2) A representative subsample from containers yielding more than 10 ounces 

of drained weight.

(b) Compliance with requirements for harmless extraneous material other than plant 

material is determined on the contents of an entire container.

(c) Compliance with requirements for the factors of damage and extraneous plant 

material shall be determined on subsamples as specified on Table II of this 

subpart.

Table II – Sample Unit Size

Style

Containers smaller 

than No. 2 1/2 

(drained leafy greens)

No. 2 1/2 

Containers (drained 

leafy greens)

No. 10 Containers 

(drained 

leafy greens)

Whole leaf; 

cut leaf 10 ounces 15 ounces 30 ounces

Chopped 2 ounces 3 ounces 6 ounces

Product Characteristics

§52.6090 Classification of defects.

(a) General. Scoreable defects in the factors of color, character, extraneous plant 

material, other extraneous material, and damaged leafy greens are outlined in 

Tables III, IV, and V.

(b) Extraneous plant material includes root crowns, root stubs, and seed heads of 

the applicable leafy green plant and harmless grass and weeds of various kinds 

and texture.

(c) Other extraneous material includes grit, sand, silt, or other earthy material.

(d) Damage includes discoloration or other similar injury on a leaf or stem or portion 

thereof which damage affects, materially affects, or seriously affects the 

appearance or eating quality of the portion of leafy green and/or entire product.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

7

(e) Degrees of defect classes. Defects are classified as to minor, major, or severe. 

Each X mark in Tables III, IV, and V represents one (1) defect.

Table III – Whole Leaf; Cut Leaf; Chopped Styles

Quality Factors Defects Minor Major Severe

Color

Color appearance is:

Adversely affected to a degree that is noticeable X

Adversely affected to a degree that is objectionable X

Character

Appearance or eating quality, due to:

(1) A mushy texture, disintegration, ragged cutting, or shredded leaves and 

shredded stems, or portions thereof; and/or

(2) A tough texture, course, or fibrous stems 

or portions thereof; and/or

(3) Any other causes, as applicable for the style is:

Adversely, but not seriously, affected X

Seriously affected X

Extraneous Plant 

Material

Root Crown:

Any significant portion of the solid area of the plant 

between the root and attached leaves X

Root Stub:

Any portion of the root whether or not the leaves 

are attached X

Seed Head – Whole leaf, Cut Leaf Styles

Longer than one (1) inch or objectionable 

regardless of length X

Seed head – Chopped Style

Pieces affecting appearance or eating qualityMore than slightly but not materially X

Materially X

Seriously X

Other Extraneous 

Material

Grit, sand, silt, or other earthly material:

A trace that no more than slightly affects 

appearance or eating quality X

Presence materially affects appearance or eating 

quality X
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

10

Table IV – Whole Leaf; Cut Leaf; Chopped Styles

Grass and Weeds (Aggregate Measurement)

Quality Factors Defects Minor Major Severe

Extraneous Plant 

Material

Whole Leaf and Cut Leaf Styles

Green, fine, tender, string like blades, and stems:

3 inches or less X

More than 3 inches but not more than 8 inches X

More than 8 inches X

Green and Coarse:

1/2 inch or less X

More than 1/2 inch but not more than 2 inches X

More than 2 inches X

Other than green – of any texture or kind:

1/2 inch or less X

More than 1/2 inch X

Chopped Style

Green, fine, tender, string-like blades, and stems:

3/4 inch or less X

More than 3/4 inch but not more than 2 inches X

More than 2 inches X

Green and Course:

3/4 inch or less X

More than 3/4 inch X

Other than green – of any texture or kind:

Any amount X
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

11

Table V – Discolorations or Other Injury

(Affecting the appearance or Eating Quality)

Quality Factors Defects Minor Major Severe

Damage

Whole Leaf and Cut Leaf Styles

Less than 1 square inch that more than slightly but not 

materially affects X

Less than 1 square inch that materially affects X

1 square inch or more but less than 4 square inches 

that affects to any degree X

More than 4 square inches that affects to any degree X

Chopped Style

Any area that materially affects X

§52.6091 Tolerances for Defects

Table VI (a) – Whole Leaf and Cut Leaf Styles

For container sizes: less than No.

2-1/2; sample unit size - 10 ounces Number of defects permitted in a sample unit

Grade 

Classification

Defect 

Classification

Upper Limit 

(UL)

Maximum 

allowed for 

deviants

Sample average 

value

U.S. Grade A

Severe 1 2 0.25

Major 4 6 1.50

Total1 8 11 4.0

U.S. Grade B

Severe 2 3 0.50

Major 8 11 4.0

Total1 18 23 12.0

1 Total – the sum of severe, major, and minor defects.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

12

Table VI (b) – Whole Leaf and Cut Leaf Styles

For container sizes: less than No.

2-1/2; sample unit size - 15 ounces Number of defects permitted in a sample unit

Grade 

Classification

Defect 

Classification

Upper Limit 

(UL)

Maximum 

allowed for 

deviants

Sample average 

value

U.S. Grade A

Severe 1 3 0.375

Major 5 8 2.25

Total1 10 14 6.0

U.S. Grade B

Severe 2 4 0.75

Major 10 14 6.0

Total1 26 32 18.0

1 Total – the sum of severe, major, and minor defects.

Table VI (c) – Whole Leaf and Cut Leaf Styles

For container sizes: less than No.

10; sample unit size - 30 ounces Number of defects permitted in a sample unit

Grade 

Classification

Defect 

Classification

Upper Limit 

(UL)

Maximum 

allowed for 

deviants

Sample average 

value

U.S. Grade A

Severe 2 4 0.75

Major 8 12 4.5

Total1 18 23 12.0

U.S. Grade B

Severe 4 6 1.5

Major 18 23 12.0

Total1 47 55 36.0

1 Total – the sum of severe, major, and minor defects.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

13

Table VII (a) – Chopped Style

For container sizes: less than No.

2-1/2; sample unit size - 2 ounces Number of defects permitted in a sample unit

Grade 

Classification

Defect 

Classification

Upper Limit 

(UL)

Maximum 

allowed for 

deviants

Sample average 

value

U.S. Grade A

Severe 1 2 0.25

Major 4 6 1.50

Minor (grass 

and weeds) 4 7 2.0

Total1 22 27 15.0

U.S. Grade B

Severe 2 3 0.50

Major 8 11 4.0

Minor (grass 

and weeds) 10 14 6.0

Total1 51 59 40.0

1 Total – the sum of severe, major, and minor grass, weeds, and other minor defects.

Table VII (b) – Chopped Style

For container sizes: less than No.

2-1/2; sample unit size - 3 ounces Number of defects permitted in a sample unit

Grade 

Classification

Defect 

Classification

Upper Limit 

(UL)

Maximum 

allowed for 

deviants

Sample average 

value

U.S. Grade A

Severe 1 3 0.375

Major 5 8 2.25

Minor (grass 

and weeds) 6 9 3.0

Total1 31 38 22.5

U.S. Grade B

Severe 2 4 0.75

Major 10 14 6.0

Minor (grass 

and weeds) 14 14 9.0

Total1 74 85 60.0

1 Total – the sum of severe, major, and minor grass, weeds, and other minor defects.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

14

Table VII (c) – Chopped Style

For container sizes: less than No.

10; sample unit size - 6 ounces Number of defects permitted in a sample unit

Grade 

Classification

Defect 

Classification

Upper Limit 

(UL)

Maximum 

allowed for 

deviants

Sample average 

value

U.S. Grade A

Severe 2 4 0.75

Major 8 12 4.5

Minor (grass 

and weeds) 10 14 6.0

Total1 57 66 45.0

U.S. Grade B

Severe 4 6 1.50

Major 18 23 12.0

Minor (grass 

and weeds) 26 32 18.0

Total1 140 153 120.0

1 Total – the sum of severe, major, and minor grass, weeds, and other minor defects.

Lot Acceptance

§52.6092 Lot acceptance for drained weights.

A lot of canned leafy greens is considered as meeting the minimum drained weight 

when the following criteria are met:

(a) The average of the drained weights from all the containers in the sample meets 

the average drained weight in Table I of this subpart (designated as X d); and

(b) The number of deviants for drained weight do not exceed the applicable 

acceptance number specified in the single sampling plan in the Regulations 

Governing Inspection of Processed Fruits, Vegetables, and Related Products (7 

CFR 52.1 - 52.83).

§52.6093 Lot acceptance for quality.

A lot of canned leafy greens shall be considered as meeting the quality requirements for 

the applicable grade when the following criteria are met:

(a) Flavor and odor. All sample units meet the requirements for flavor and odor.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

15

(b) Defects.

(1) The number of sample units which exceed the upper limit (UL) for these 

defects for the applicable grade (deviants), specified in Tables VI(a), VI(b), 

VI(c), VII(a), VII(b), and VII(c), does not exceed the acceptance number 

specified for the sample size in the Single Sampling Plan of the 

Regulations Governing Inspection of Processed Fruits, Vegetables, and 

Related Products (7 CFR 52.1 - 52.83); and

(2) The sample average values for the various defect classifications specified 

in Tables VI(a), VI(b), VI(c), VII(a), VII(b), and VII(c) are not exceeded.

(3) No sample unit exceeds the maximum number of defects allowed for 

deviants.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens (January 20, 2017)

16

Score Sheet

§52.6094 Score sheet for canned leafy greens.

NO., SIZE, AND KIND OF CONTAINER

LABEL

CONTAINER 

MARK OR 

IDENTIFICATION

PRIMARY

CASE

Net Weight (Ounces)

Vacuum (Inches)

Drained Weight (Ounces)

Sample Unit Number 1 2 3

Quality Factors

MajorMinor

Severe

Major

Minim

Severe

MajorMinor

Severe

Color

Character

Damage

Plant

Green, fine

Green, course

Other

Harmless 

Extraneous 

Material

Seed head

Root crown

Root stub SAMPLE

AVERAGE

Other Than Plant

MajorMinor

Severe

Total 

(Each Class)

Cumulative Total 

(All Classes)

FLAVOR

AND ODOR

Good

Objectionable