FSC 8940 

A-A-20267A 

March 18, 2013 

SUPERSEDING 

A-A-20267 

July 31, 1997 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION 

MEAT LOAF, FROZEN

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

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID). 

1. SCOPE. This CID covers frozen meat loaf, (meat loaf), packed in commercially acceptable 

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

2. PURCHASER NOTES. Purchasers shall specify the following: 

 - Type(s), style(s), and topping(s) of meat loaf 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. 10.1) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.2).

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

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

Types, styles, and toppings.1

Type I - Beef

Type II - Beef and pork

Style A - Sliced

Style B - Not sliced

Topping 1 - Brown gravy

Topping 2 - Ketchup

Topping 3 - No topping 

Topping 4 - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

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

products shall meet the requirements of the: 

 

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

METRIC
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 - 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 meat loaf shall be processed in accordance with Current Good 

Manufacturing Practices (21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 110). 

5.2. Food security. The meat loaf 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.2

 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 meat loaf shall be manufactured not more than 90 days prior to delivery. 

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS. 

6.1. Ingredients. The meat loaf shall consist of meat, topping (except when topping 3 is 

specified), spices, 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. Meat. The meat shall be beef or pork and shall conform to the applicable provisions of 

the meat and poultry products inspection and certification requirements (9 CFR Parts 301 to 

350). The meat shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Institutional Meat Purchase 

Specifications (IMPS), including the Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs) for major and minor 

defects, the defect levels specified in Table 100I (for beef), and the defect levels specified in 

Table 400K (for pork) of the IMPS Quality Assurance Provisions (QAPs). The meat loaf shall 

meet the requirements of the USDA Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book for meat loaf. 

 

2

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm083075.h

tm
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6.1.2. Meat loaf mixture. The meat loaf mixture shall contain ground beef or ground beef and 

pork, ketchup, bread crumbs or rolled oats, spices, seasonings, and may contain vegetables (such 

as, but not limited to, onions and tomatoes). 

6.1.3. Topping. When Topping 1, brown gravy, is specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the gravy shall contain beef products (e.g., beef base, rendered beef fat, and beef 

stock), sweeteners, thickeners, and spices, including salt and garlic. When topping 2, ketchup, is 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the ketchup shall contain tomato paste, 

vinegar, and spices. 

6.1.4. Additional ingredients. The meat loaf 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 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. Any additional ingredients added directly to the meat 

components shall comply with the Food Ingredients and Sources of Radiation section of the 

Regulatory Requirements Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products 

Inspection Act (9 CFR § 424.21), or Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of 

Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products (FSIS Directive 7120.13). 

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 meat loaf shall show no evidence of spoilage, thawing and 

refreezing, or excessive heating (materially scorched). 

6.2.1. Appearance. The overall appearance of the meat loaf shall not be dry or mushy. There 

shall be no foreign color to the product. 

6.2.2. Aroma and flavor. The meat loaf with Topping 1 shall have an aroma and flavor 

characteristic of prepared meat loaf with brown gravy. The meat loaf with Topping 2 shall have 

an aroma and flavor characteristic of prepared meat loaf with ketchup. There shall be no foreign 

odors or flavors such as, but not limited to, burnt, scorched, stale, rancid, or moldy. 

6.2.3. Texture and consistency. The texture of the meat loaf shall not be rubbery or tough. 

The toppings shall not be excessively thin, thick, or pasty. 

7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS. 

 

3 http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/fsisdirectives/7120.1.pdf 
A-A-20267A 

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

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

 Test Tolerance 

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

 (MSG) finished product 

 Fat Less than 23.0 g per 227 g (8 oz) of finished 

 product 

 Sodium Less than 1,190 mg per 227 g (8 oz) of finished 

 product

 Standard Plate Count Less than 50,000 CFU 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 lbs) 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 Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) as 

specified below: 

Test Method 

 

MSG 970.37 

 Fat 985.15, 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 
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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 meat loaf provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this 

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

same meat loaf offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to 

require proof of conformance. 

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered meat loaf shall comply with all 

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

packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of the meat loaf in the commercial 

marketplace. Delivered meat loaf 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 meat loaf, the meat loaf

shall comply with the allergen labeling requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 

Act. When the meat loaf is used for the National School Lunch Program, the meat loaf shall 

comply with all applicable provisions of the Child Nutrition (CN) Programs. 

10. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 10.1 or 10.2.

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

or purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor shall certify that the finished meat loaf product 

distributed meets or exceeds the requirements of this CID. 

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

product quality, acceptability or both be determined, the Specialty Crops Inspection Division 

(SCI), Fruit and Vegetable Program (FV), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, shall 

be the certifying agency. SCI inspectors shall certify the quality and acceptability of the meat 

loaf in accordance with SCI procedures which include: selecting random samples of the meat 

loaf, 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 and/or 

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

examine the meat loaf 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 shall be 

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

12. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 10.2 is specified in the solicitation, 
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contract, or purchase order, USDA certification shall include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of samples of meat loaf 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 contact. For a USDA certification 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 the Science & Technology Program (S&TP), AMS, USDA, 

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

720-5231 or via E-mail: Alan.Post@ams.usda.gov or Ruihong.Guo@ams.usda.gov.

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, information on the Meat and Poultry Products Inspection and Voluntary Inspection 

and Certification are contained in 9 CFR Parts 301 to 350, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act 
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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/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocument

s/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm083075.htm.

Copies of the USDA’s Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book are available online from 

USDA, FSIS, at: 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/larc/policies/labeling_policy_book_082005.pdf. 

Copies of the Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) are available online from 

USDA, AMS on the Internet at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateP&nav 

ID=IMPS&rightNav1=IMPS&topNav=&leftNav=&page=LivestockStandardizationIMPS

&resultType=&acct=lsstd. 

Copies of FSIS Directive 7120.1, Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat, 

Poultry, and Egg Products, are available online from USDA, FSIS, at: 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/fsisdirectives/7120.1.pdf. 

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 

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, 

 
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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.