Agricultural Marketing Service 

Commodity Procurement Staff 

P.O. Box 419205, MS 8718 

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

FC10

Fortified (Ready-To-Eat) Cereal Products

FOR USE IN

DOMESTICPROGRAMS

 Effective Date: 01/19/16

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

FC10

FORTIFIED (READY-TO-EAT) CEREAL PRODUCTS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES 1

Section 1.2 WARRANTY 1

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE 1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS 2

Section 2.1 GENERAL 2

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS 2

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS 2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS 3
FC10 Page 1 of 3

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Quality of the Product

The commodity delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in the Cereal,

Prepared, Ready-To-Eat Commercial Item Descriptions (CID), A-A20000D

(December 22, 2008) at

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CID%20Cereal%2C%20Prepar

ed%2C%20Ready-To-Eat.pdf except the expanded/extruded manufacturing

process is excluded from all types and classifications of the cereal products

allowed in Part 3 of the CID.

B. Manufacturing/Cooking Process.

(1) The manufacturing/cooking process required for non-extruded cereals

(corn flakes, bran flakes, and crisp rice) shall be the conventional batch

method. The process for the corn square cereal or the corn and rice biscuit

cereal may be the conventional batch method or the extruded method. The

process for the oat circle cereal shall be produced by the extruded method.

When the extruded method is used for shaped cereals (corn squares, corn

and rice biscuits, or oat circles), it shall include dry and/or tempering of

the product followed by gun or oven puffing.

(2) The main ingredient for the cereal products shall consist of whole grain

kernels, parts of kernels, or flaking grits for the conventional batch

method. When using the extruded process for shaped cereals only, whole

grain flour (includes the bran) or meal shall be used.

C. Product Testing Requirement.

Corn used for a product delivered shall be sampled and tested for the Cry9C

protein pursuant to the Food and Drug Administration guidelines and such test

results shall be negative.

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The product shall have a self-life of at least 250 days from the date of 

manufacturer. Product shall not be manufactured more than 60 days prior to 

shipping.

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. The contractor shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to ensure that

the product meets the commodity specifications. The results shall be evidenced

by a Certificate of Analysis (COA).

B. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet

contract requirements.
FC10 Page 2 of 3

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials requirements

used under this contract.

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall certify at the

time of submission of an offer that the commercial product being delivered has a

history of successful distribution and use in domestic commercial channels and is

sold on the commercial market with an established level of consumer acceptance.

B. Container and packaging requirements are those used in the current commercial

shipping practices and shall comply with:

(1) Unitization requirements in Section 2.4.

(2) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” may be

printed on the principal display panel of the food label.

(3) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number shall be shown on

the commercial bill of lading.

(4) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe stacking

height. It is the responsibility of the contractor in cooperation with the

shipping container manufacturers to determine the safe stacking height.

(5) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses, all commerciallabeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR USDA FOOD

DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.”

C. The cereal shall be packed in a pouch and placed in a fiberboard carton. The

pouch and carton shall be of a type normally used in commercial channels.

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS

A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the

requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe

contact with the packaged product. The contractor shall obtain and

maintain documentation from the container or packaging material

manufacturer to verify that the containers and packaging materials

used in this contract were in compliance with the Government’s

regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as

required in the Master Solicitation, Part 3, Section A, Number 3.

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to:

Senior Contracting Officer Ray Boyd Phone (816) 926 2612 or 

Roy.Boyd@ams.usda.gov

C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from

a foreign country and/or the package and container is manufactured

in a foreign country, the package and container SHALL NOT display

country of origin labeling. Phrases similar to but not inclusive of,

“Made in [Name of Foreign Country.]” or “Product of [Name of
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Foreign Country.]” are strictly prohibited.

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements:

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of fortified cereals

are required to be slip-sheeted only and stretch wrapped.

B. Slip-sheeted loads shall be:

(1) Held in place with a plastic film stretched to a minimum of 50 percent

beyond its original length when stretched around the unit load.

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a manner

that prevents shifting during transit.

C. Free Time Allowance.

(1) Some receiving destinations may not be equipped for unloading slipsleeted product. The Government requires contractors to allow free time

up to six (6) hours for unloading trucks at intermediate and final

destinations. Full and split loads shall be allowed the same free time.

(2) Free time allowance is computed from the time of arrival or time of

scheduled unloading, whichever is later. Charges for detention beyond the

free time required by the Government will be for the account of the

consignee.