USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

DYO2

YOGURT PRODUCTS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: 01/17/17
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

DYO2

YOGURT 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_______________________ 1

Section 2.1 GENERAL _________________________________________________________ 1

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS _______________________ 1

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS_____________________________________ 2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS_____________________________________ 3
CR4 Page 1

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

The commodity delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in the Yogurt, Type II (High 

Protein), Class C (Non-Fat) Commercial Item Descriptions (CID), A-A-20364 (April 24, 2013) at 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5103798. 

In accordance with meal pattern requirements at 7 CFR 226.20 (a)(5)(iii), yogurt must contain no 

more than 23 grams of total sugars per 6 oz. For example, no more than 15 grams per 4 oz. 

serving. Flavor options to be specified in the schedule of supply. When a fruit or dessert flavor

option is specified, flavoring shall be CID flavor style a – Blended/stirred/set, using Sweetener 

type a. Product shall be maintained at 35 – 42 degrees fahrenheit during storage and 

transportation.

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The product shall have a shelf life of at least 50 days from date of manufacturer. The 

product shall not have been manufactured more than 10 days prior to the date of delivery 

to the Government.

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

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.
CR4 Page 2

(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.”

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 below:

The commodity shall conform to the applicable provisions of the "Federal 

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act" (21 U.S.C. 301 et. seq.), as amended, and the 

relevant regulations. The contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, 

State and local laws, executive orders, rules and regulations related to its 

performance under this contract. All containers and packaging materials shall 

be constructed to meet the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration 

for safe contact with the packaged product. In addition, all containers and 

packaging materials shall be constructed to comply with the sum 

concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium 

addressed by the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG) model 

legislation. The sum of the concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, 

and/or hexavalent chromium present in any package or packaging component 

shall not exceed 100 parts per million. Concentration levels shall be 

determined using American Standard of Testing Materials test methods, as 

revised, or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency test methods for evaluating 

solid waste, S-W 846, as revised. 

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

USDA/FSA/DACO

Room 5755 – South Bldg, STOP 0551

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20250-0551

ATTN: Packaging

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, 
CR4 Page 3

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

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 packaged 

products shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped).

B. Pallets shall be:

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the 

packaged product, as a unit, without loss or damage.

(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken runners or 

slats.

(3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products.

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be:

(1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a minimum of 50 

percent beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet load.

(2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized shipping 

containers. The shipping containers shall be held firmly in place by the 

stretch wrap.

D. Pallet loads shall be:

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping containers 

overhang the edges of pallets.

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

that prevents shifting during transit.