FSC 8915 

A-A-20117C 

November 19, 2014 

SUPERSEDING 

A-A-20117B 

May 1, 1998 

 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

JUICE, PRUNE, SHELF STABLE

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

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers shelf stable prune juice, (prune juice), packed in commercially 

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

parties. Please note: This document does not guarantee purchase of this item by USDA.1

 

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers must specify the following: 

 - Package type(s) and style(s) of prune juice desired (Sec. 3).

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

 - Process for verification of analytical requirements (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 (Sec. 10.1) and Manufacturer’s Quality Assurance (Sec. 10.2). Purchaser 

may specify one of the following combinations: Sec. 10.1.1 with 10.2.1, or 10.1.2 with 

10.2.2. 

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

3. CLASSIFICATION. The prune juice must conform to the following list which must be 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

Package types and styles.2

1 For USDA purchase specifications please visit the following websites: Commodity Purchase Specifications for Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS) and Commodity Purchase Specifications for Farm Service Agency (FSA). 2 Not all options are available from every manufacturer. Check with the manufacturer/distributor for availability.

METRIC
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Package type A - Bottle

Package type B - Can

Package type C - Carton

Package type D - Bag-in-box 

Package type E - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Style a - Regular (21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 146.187) 

Style b - Light (21 CFR § 101.56 and 21 CFR § 130.10) 

Style c - Other (as specified by the purchaser) 

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

products must 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 prune juice must be processed in accordance with Current Good 

Manufacturing Practices (21 CFR Part 110) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 

(HACCP) Systems (21 CFR Part 120). 

5.2 Food security. The prune juice must 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.3 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. 

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

6.1 Ingredients. The prune juice must be prepared from a water extract from properly dried, 

matured, sound, wholesome, whole prunes, in accordance with the requirements specified in the 

US Standard of Identity for Canned Prune Juice (21 CFR § 146.187). All ingredients must be 

3 http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm. 
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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. 

6.2 Additional ingredients. Acidifying ingredients such as lemon juice, lime juice, and citric 

acid, or combination of either one may be added. The prune juice may also contain honey and 

ascorbic acid in the amounts permitted in 21 CFR § 146.187(B)(2) and 146.187(B)(3). When 

used, the additional ingredients must meet the standards specified in the Food Chemicals Codex 

(FCC) or, in the absence of FCC specification at a minimum, meet the specifications for quality 

set by the US Pharmacopeia (USP)-National Formulary quality. The additional ingredients must 

be approved for those particular uses by FDA’s regulations on food additives or be Generally 

Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for those intended uses. 

6.3 Finished product. 

6.3.1 Flavor and aroma. The prune juice must have good flavor and aroma characteristic of 

prune juice and shall not contain any off flavors or odors, such as, but not limited to, rancid or 

fermented.

6.3.2 Color. The prune juice must have an amber brown color characteristic of prune juice.

6.3.3 Defects and foreign material. The prune juice must be practically free from pieces of 

peel or pit and must show no evidence of the presence of foreign material, such as, but not 

limited to, extraneous plant material, insects, or insect parts.

7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS.

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

purchase order, the prune juice must comply with the following tolerance: 

Test Tolerance

Soluble solids Not less than 18.5% by weight 

7.2 Analytical verification. Purchaser must specify Sec. 7.2.1 or Sec. 7.2.2. 

7.2.1 Manufacturer/distributor verification. The manufacturer/distributor must certify via a 

Certificate of Conformance or other adequate documentation (as specified by the purchaser) that 

the prune juice meets the analytical requirements specified in Sec. 7.1 of this CID. 

7.2.2 USDA verification. Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Fruit and Vegetable Program 

(FV), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division inspection personnel will verify that the prune 

juice meets the analytical requirements using the procedures specified in Sec. 7.3 of this CID. 
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7.3 USDA verification procedures. When USDA verification of analytical requirements (Sec. 

7.2.2) is specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing will be 

performed as follows. 

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

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

subsamples or retail packages randomly selected from the lot. The number of subsamples must 

be based on USDA inspection service sampling procedures and plans (7 CFR § 52.38). The 

contents of each will be used to create a composite sample that will be tested for soluble solids. 

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

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

Official Methods of Analysis (OMA): 

Test Method

Soluble solids 932.12, 983.17, or 932.14C

7.3.3 Test results. Test results for soluble solids must be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent. 

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

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

distributor must certify that the prune juice provided will meet the salient characteristics of this 

CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be the 

same prune juice offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to 

require proof of conformance. 

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered prune juice must comply with all 

applicable Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, 

packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of the prune juice in the commercial 

marketplace. Delivered prune juice must 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 prune juice, the prune juice

must comply with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 

(amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act). When the prune juice is used for the 

National School Lunch Program, the prune juice must comply with all applicable provisions of 

the Child Nutrition (CN) Program. 

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

purchaser may specify one of the following combinations: 10.1.1 with 10.2.1, or 10.1.2 with 

10.2.2. 
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10.1 Food defense. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS must 

be conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division. 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 must 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 must be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division. 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.

10.1.2 Food defense section of the PSA. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, a food defense audit will be conducted as part of the PSA. The audit will be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division 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.

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

purchase order, the product manufacturer must 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 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 Current Good 

Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (21 CFR Part 

110).

10.2.2 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 Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, 
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Packing, or Holding Human Food (21 CFR Part 110), and verifies that the manufacturer has in 

place an internal quality assurance program. 

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

or purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor must certify that the prune juice 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 Division, FV, AMS, USDA, 

must be the certifying program. SCI Division inspectors must certify the quality and 

acceptability of the prune juice in accordance with SCI Division procedures, which include 

selecting random samples of the prune juice, evaluating the samples for conformance with the 

salient characteristics of this CID and other contractual requirements, and documenting the 

findings on official SCI Division score sheets and/or certificates. In addition, when required in 

the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, SCI Division inspectors will examine the prune juice 

for conformance to the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) in 

effect on the date of the solicitation.

11. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking must 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 must include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of samples of prune juice 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 Division inspection personnel 

will 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 services.

13.1.1 USDA certification and Plant Survey. For a USDA certification and Plant Survey 

contact the Associate Director, Inspection Operations, SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, 

Room 1536 South Building, STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
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20250-0240, telephone (202) 720-2482, fax (202) 720-0393, or via E-mail: 

Nathaniel.Taylor@ams.usda.gov.

13.1.2 USDA FDSS, and PSA. For a USDA FDSS, and PSA contact the Chief, Auditing 

Services Branch, Inspection Operations, SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, Room 1536 South 

Building, STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, 

telephone (202) 720-5021, fax (202) 260-8927, or via E-mail: fvaudits@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: KerryR.Smith@ams.usda.gov. 

13.3 Sources of documents.

13.3.1 Source of information for nongovernmental document is as follows:

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. 

Copies of the AOAC International OMA may be obtained from: AOAC International, 2275 

Research Boulevard, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850-3250, telephone (301) 924-7077. 

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

members and AOAC OMA subscribers. 

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, Sampling Plans and Procedures are contained in 7 CFR Part 52, 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: 
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http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation

/FoodDefense/ucm083075.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 

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

Branch, USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division, Riverside Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, 

Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 22406, telephone (540) 361-1130, Fax (540) 361-1199, via Email: CIDS@ams.usda.gov or on the Internet at: 

www.ams.usda.gov/CommercialItemDescription.

CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

DOJ - BOP

HHS - FDA

USDA - FV

VA - OSS

PREPARING ACTIVITY:

USDA - FV

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