AMSC N/A FSC 8950

METRIC

A-A-20346B

February 21, 2014

SUPERSEDING

A-A-20346A

August 10, 2007

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

CATSUP (KETCHUP, CATCHUP)

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

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers catsup, packed in commercially acceptable containers, suitable for 

use by Federal, State, local governments, and other interested parties; and as a component of 

operational rations.

2. PURCHASHER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers must specify the following:

- Type(s), flavor(s), style(s), agricultural practice(s), and packaging type(s) of catsup 

required (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. 10.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.4).

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following:

- Define pungency requirement through a bid sample (Sec. 7.1.5).

- Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 10.2 with 10.2.1) or (Sec. 10.2 with 10.2.2).

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

- Food Defense Section 10.1: Food Defense System Survey (FDSS) (Sec. 10.1.1), or Food 

Defense Addendum to Plant Systems Audit (PSA) (Sec. 10.1.2), or (Sec. 10.1.2 with 

10.2.1).

3. CLASSIFICATION. The catsup must conform to the following list which must be specified 

in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

Types, flavors, styles, agricultural practices, and packaging types.

Type I - Regular

Type II - Reduced Sugar (21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 101.60)
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Type III - No added salt (21 CFR § 101.61)

Type IV - Other (as specified by the purchaser) (Shall comply with 21 CFR § 130.10, 

Requirements for foods named by use of a nutrient content claim and a standardized 

term and 21 CFR § 101.13, Nutrient content claims - general principles).

Flavor A - Plain

Flavor B - Garlic

Flavor C - Habanero

Flavor D - Mesquite

Flavor E - Chipotle

Flavor F - Jalapeño

Style 1 - Mild

Style 2 - Medium

Style 3 - Hot

Flavor G - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Agricultural Practice a - Conventional

Agricultural Practice b - Organic

Packaging type (1) - Plastic container1

Packaging type (2) - Glass bottle1

Packaging type (3) - Can1

Packaging type (4) - Portion control packet1

Packaging type (5) - Other (as specified by the purchaser)1

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.

 1

 Purchaser to verify with suppliers availability of the size required.
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5.1 Processing. The catsup must be processed in accordance with Current Good Manufacturing 

Practices (21 CFR Part 110) and the United States Standard of Identity for Catsup (21 CFR § 

155.194).

5.2 Food security. The catsup 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.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 Organic ingredients. When organic catsup is specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the catsup must be produced, handled, and labeled in accordance with the USDA 

organic regulations by an operation that is certified organic in accordance with the requirements 

of the National Organic Program (7 CFR Part 205). A Certificate of Organic Production or 

Handling must be provided to verify that the product was processed and handled in accordance 

with the USDA organic regulations.

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

6.1 Ingredients. All ingredients must be as specified in the United States Standard of Identity 

for Catsup (21 CFR § 155.194). A product that does not conform to 21 CFR § 155.194 because 

of the addition of an ingredient such as jalapeño peppers, for which no provision is made in the 

standard, shall use an appropriately descriptive term, such as “ketchup blended with jalapeños”.

6.2 Texture. The catsup must be smooth, moderately thick, and possess a consistency such that 

not more than a slight separation of free liquid occurs. All spices and seasonings must be 

uniformly comminuted and distributed.

6.3 Flavor and odor. The catsup must have a sweet, slightly tangy, cooked tomato flavor and 

odor characteristic of the flavor specified. There must be no foreign flavors or odors.

6.4 Appearance. Flavor A catsup must be a red color and Flavors B - F must be a medium to 

deep reddish color. The catsup surface must be glossy.

 2

 http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm
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6.5 Foreign material. All ingredients and finished product must be clean, sound, wholesome, 

and free from evidence of rodent or insect infestation and conform to current FDA Food Defect 

Action Levels.

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

the catsup must be processed and packaged not more than 120 days prior to delivery to the 

purchaser. Age requirements for Department of Defense (DoD) procurements must be specified 

in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

7. ANALYTICAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS.

7.1 Analytical and physical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, the analytical and physical requirements for the catsup must be as 

follows.

7.1.1 Soluble solids. The soluble solids must not be less than 26.0 percent and not greater than 

35.0 percent.

7.1.2 pH. The pH level must not be greater than 4.2.

7.1.3 Salt content. The salt content must not be less than 2.1 percent and not greater than 3.5

percent.3

7.1.4 Titratable acidity. The titratable acidity must not be greater than 2.2 percent by weight.

7.1.5 Pungency. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, pungency must

be defined at the discretion of the buyer or be based on a reference or bid sample product and be 

a mutual agreement between the parties involved. NOTE: Commercial vendor’s pungency 

ranges vary greatly. When specified, the pungency of Flavor F, jalapeño catsup must be Style 1, 

mild; Style 2, medium; and Style 3, hot.

7.1.6 Consistency. The consistency of the catsup must not be less than 3.0 cm nor more than 

14.0 cm in 30 seconds at 20oC (68oF) ± 1oC (1.8oF) when measured using a Bostwick

consistometer per procedures defined in the USDA Grading Manual for Tomato Catsup.

7.1.7 Mold. The average mold count must not be greater than 55 percent.

 3 Does not include Type III No Added Salt.
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7.1.8 Material defects. The catsup must be practically free from defects such as: dark specks or

scale-like particles, seeds, particles of seed, tomato peel, core material, or other similar 

substances. Practically free from defects means that any defects present do not more than 

slightly affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

7.2 Product verification. When verification of analytical requirements is specified in the

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the following procedures will be followed. Except for

mold analysis, analytical and physical testing must be performed on a composite sample. The 

composite sample must be 227 g (8 oz) prepared from five randomly selected subsamples. 

Subsamples must be a minimum of one container and must contain the appropriate number of

containers to yield a 227 g (8 oz) sample when composited. Sampling for mold analysis must be

based on USDA inspection service sampling procedures and plans.

7.3 Analytical and physical testing. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

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

Official Methods of Analysis (OMA) or the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) method 

as specified below:

Test Method

Soluble Solids 970.59

pH 981.12

Salt 941.13, or 971.27

Titratable acidity 4 920.174, or 942.15

Pungency5 995.03, or ASTA 21.3

Consistency Bostwick Consistometer, or 967.16

Mold 965.41

Material defects6

Test results. The test result for pH and titratable acidity must be reported to the nearest 0.1 

value. The test result for salt and soluble solids must be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent. The 

test results for pungency must be reported to the nearest SHU or ppm. The test results for 

consistency must be reported to the nearest 0.5 centimeter in 30 seconds. The test results for 

 4 As acetic acid. 5 When a pungency value of 750 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) (50 parts per million) or greater is specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase

order, analysis of pungency shall be with methods indicated. 6 This factor is evaluated by observing a layer of the catsup on a smooth white, flat surface. The layer is prepared by drawing a scraper with a

clearance of 2.38 mm (3/32 in) high by 17.78 cm (7 in) long rapidly through the product in two horizontal planes so as to form an approximate 

square.
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mold must be reported as the nearest percent mold value. Any result not conforming to the 

analytical and physical requirements will be cause for rejection of the lot.

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

distributor must certify that the catsup provided meets the salient characteristics of this CID, 

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

catsup for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to require proof of

conformance.

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered catsup must comply with all applicable

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

packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of catsup within the commercial marketplace. 

Delivered catsup must comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

may specify 10.1 with 10.1.1 or 10.1 with 10.1.2, or 10.2 with 10.2.1., or 10.2 with 10.2.2.

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

be conducted by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Inspection 

(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, 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.”) For further information, see 

section 13.1 and 13.3.2.

10.1.2 Food defense addendum to PSA. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, a Food defense addendum must be conducted by USDA, AMS, 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 verifies the participating company’s adherence to the FDA’s “Guidance for 
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Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures 

Guidance.”) For further information, see section 13.1 and 13.3.2.

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 

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 systems audit. 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 21 CFR Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing 

Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, and verifies that the 

manufacturer has in place an internal quality assurance program.)

10.2.2 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 21 CFR Part 110 -

Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.)

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

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the catsup 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 or acceptability or both be determined, the SCI Division, Fruit and Vegetable

Program (FV), AMS, USDA, must be the certifying program. SCI Division inspectors must

certify the quality and acceptability of the catsup in accordance with SCI Division procedures 

which include selecting random samples of the catsup, evaluating the samples for conformance

with the salient characteristic 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 catsup 

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.
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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 the samples of packaged catsup, 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. 7.1). When USDA analytical testing is specified, SCI Division inspection personnel 

must select samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology Program

(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, plant survey, PSA, and FDSS. For USDA certification, 

plant survey, PSA, and FDSS contact the Chief Inspection Branch, SCI Division, 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. 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) 

720-5231 or via E-mail: KerryR.Smith@ams.usda.gov.

13.3 Sources of documents.

13.3.1 Source of information for nongovernmental documents is 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 Official Analytical Methods of the American Spice Trade Association may be 

obtained from: American Spice Trade Association, 2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800, 

Washington, DC 20036, telephone (202) 367-1127, or via Fax (202) 367-2127. Internet

address: http://www.astaspice.org.

13.3.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:
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Applicable provisions of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers are contained 7 

CFR Part 42, 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 FDA’s Guidance for Industry: Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food

Security Preventive Measures Guidance is available from: FDA, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) on the Internet at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation

/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm.

Copies of the FDA Food Defect Action Levels may be obtained from: Industry Activities Staff 

(HFS-565), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch 

Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835 or on the Internet at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation

/SanitationTransportation/ucm056174.htm.

Copies of the USDA Grading Manual for Tomato Catsup are available from: Chief, 

Standardization Branch, SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 240, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, telephone (202) 720-5021, Fax 

(202) 690-1527 or on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppb.html.

Copies of this CID and the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) are

available from: Chief, Standardization Branch, SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 240, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 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.

Copies of this CID are also available online at: ASSIST Online (https://assist.dla.mil) or 

ASSIST Quick Search (http://quicksearch.dla.mil) or from the Standardization Documents 

Order Desk, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services, Building 4D, 700 

Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094.

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

which may improve this document should be sent to: DLA Troop Support, ATTN: DLA -

FTSA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092 or Fax (215) 737-2963, or via Email: dscpsubsweb@dla.mil.
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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Custodians DOJ - BOP

USDA - FV

Army - GL VA - OSS

Navy - SA

Air Force - 35 PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Review Activities DLA - SS

(Project No. 8950-2013-002)

Army - MD, QM

Navy - MC

NOTE: The activities listed above were interested in this document as of the date of this 

document. Since organizations and responsibilities can change, you should verify the currency 

of the information above using the ASSIST Online database at https://assist.dla.mil/.

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