FSC 8920 

A-A-20022D

April 23, 2008

SUPERSEDING

A-A-20022C

June 13, 2005 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

CEREAL FOR BABIES, INSTANT 

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

 the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers instant cereal for babies, 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:

- Type(s) of instant cereal for babies desired (Sec. 3). 

- When the age requirement at the time of delivery is other than specified (Sec. 5.5). 

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 8.2) or USDA certification (Sec. 

8.3). 

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following:

- Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 8.1 with 8.1.1) or (Sec. 8.1 with 8.1.2). 

- Special labeling and packaging requirements (Sec. 9). 

3. CLASSIFICATION. The instant cereal for babies shall conform to the following list 

which shall be specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

Types.

Type I - Rice 

Type II - Wheat 

Type III - Oat 

METRIC 
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Type IV - Barley 

Type V - Corn 

Type VI - Mixed 

Type VII - Other 

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

products shall meet the requirements of the: 

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 5). 

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s assurance (Sec. 6). 

- Regulatory requirements (Sec. 7). 

- Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 8). 

- Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 9). 

5. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

5.1 Raw ingredients. The instant cereal for babies shall be prepared from clean, sound grains 

free from evidence of rodent or insect infestation.

5.2 Processing. The instant cereal for babies shall be prepared in accordance with good 

manufacturing practices (21 CFR Part 110). 

5.3 Finished product. The instant cereal for babies shall be completely cooked and flaked. It 

shall be of suitable size such that it is readily mixable in milk or water and is usable as a food 

supplement for infants. 

5.3.1 Appearance and color. When prepared as directed on the package, the instant cereal for 

babies shall possess a characteristic appearance and color of the type of instant cereal for babies 

used. 

5.3.2 Odor and flavor. When prepared as directed on the package, the instant cereal for babies 

shall possess an odor and flavor characteristic of the type of instant cereal for babies used. There 

shall be no foreign odors or flavors such as, but not limited to, rancid, bitter, raw, starchy, sour, 

or other undesirable odors and flavors. 

5.3.3 Texture. When prepared as directed on the package, the instant cereal for babies shall 

possess a characteristic texture. 

5.3.4 Fortification. Unless otherwise specified, the instant cereal for babies shall be fortified 

with iron at a minimum of 45 mg of iron in 100 g of dry cereal but not exceeding 50 percent of 
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the Daily Value (DV) for infants per 1/2 oz serving. If other nutrients are added, they shall be 

fortified at a level not to exceed 50 percent of the DV for infants per 1⁄2 oz serving. 

5.4 Foreign material. There shall be no evidence of foreign material such as, but not limited to 

dirt, insect parts, hair, wood, glass, or metal. 

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

order, the instant cereal for babies shall be manufactured not more than 45 days prior to delivery 

to the purchaser. The instant cereal for babies shall have a shelf life of at least one year from the

date of manufacture. 

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

distributor shall certify that the instant cereal for babies provided shall meet the salient 

characteristics of this CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance 

practices, and be the same instant cereal for babies offered for sale in the commercial market. 

The purchaser reserves the right to require proof of conformance. 

7. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered instant cereal for babies shall comply 

with all applicable Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the 

preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of the instant cereal for babies 

within the commercial marketplace. Delivered instant cereal for babies shall comply with all 

applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and 

Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. The delivered instant cereal for babies 

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

Act. 

8. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 8.2 or 8.3; purchaser 

may specify 8.1 with 8.1.1, or 8.1 with 8.1.2.

8.1 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 awarding of 

the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame may result in 

the contract being terminated for cause. 

8.1.1 Plant systems audit. A plant systems audit (PSA) conducted by the Federal Grain 

Inspection Service (FGIS) or another audit performed by a third party auditing service is required 

within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the contract. (A FGIS PSA verifies the 

manufacturer’s capability to produce products in a clean, sanitary environment in accordance 

with Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice in 
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Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, and verifies that the manufacturer has in 

place an internal quality assurance program. The FGIS PSA determines the manufacturer’s 

ability to produce under this CID, if the products of interest are identified at the time of the 

PSA.)

8.1.2 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by FGIS or another survey performed by a third 

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

contract. (A FGIS plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of the survey, the manufacturer 

produces products in a clean, sanitary environment in accordance with Title 21 Code of Federal 

Regulations Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or 

Holding Human Food.) 

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

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the instant cereal for babies 

distributed meets or exceeds the requirements of this CID. 

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

product quality or acceptability or both be determined, FGIS shall be the certifying agency. The 

FGIS inspectors shall certify the quality and acceptability of the instant cereal for babies in 

accordance with agency procedures which include selecting random samples of the instant cereal 

for babies, evaluating the samples for conformance with the salient characteristics of this CID 

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

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

inspectors will examine the instant cereal for babies for conformance to the United States 

Standards for Condition for Food Containers in effect on the date of the solicitation. 

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

accordance with good commercial packaging unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order. 

10. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 8.3 is specified in the solicitation, 

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

condition of samples of instant cereal for babies, and compliance with requirements in the 

following areas:

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 5). 

 - Packaging requirements (Sec. 9 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order). 

11. REFERENCE NOTES.
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11.1 USDA certification contact. For USDA, FGIS certification, contact the Policy and 

Procedures Branch, Field Management Division, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard 

Administration (GIPSA), STOP 3632, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 

20250-3632, telephone (202) 720-0252, Fax (202) 720-1015, or via E-mail: 

HenryC.Greenwood@usda.gov. 

11.2 Sources of documents.

11.2.1 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows: 

Applicable provisions of 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 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. 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 or on the Internet at: 

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. 

Copies of this CID, the United States Standards for Condition for Food Containers, and 

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

which may improve this CID are available from and/or provided to: Branch Chief, Processed 

Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0247, telephone (202) 720-9939, Fax 

(202) 690-0102, via E-mail: FQAStaff@usda.gov or on the Internet at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/FQAS. 

CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

 HHS - HIS, NIH 

 USDA - FNS 

 USDA - FSA 

 USDA - FV 

PREPARING ACTIVITY:

 USDA - FV 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political 

beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, 

Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.