United States

Department

of

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Processed

Products 

Branch

United States

Standards for

Grades of Canned

Grape Juice

Effective May 14, 1951
This is the second issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Grape Juice

published in the FEDERAL REGISTER ofApril 12, 1951, (16 FR3209) to become effective

May14, 1951. This issue supersedes the first issue which has been in effect since June 15,

1945.

Voluntary U.S. grade standards are issued under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing

Act of 1946, which provides for the development of officialU.S.grades to designate different

levels of quality. These grade standards are available for use by producers, suppliers, buyers,

and consumers. As in the case of other standards for grades of processed fruits and

vegetables, these standards are designed to facilitate orderly marketing by providing a

convenient basis for buying and selling, for establishing quality control programs, and for

determining loan values.

The standards also serve as a basis for the inspection and grading of commodities by the

Federal inspection service, the only activity authorized to approve the designation of U.S.

grades as referenced in the standards, as provided under the Agricultural Marketing Act of

1946. This service, available as on-line (in-plant) or lot inspection and grading of all

processed fruitand vegetable products, is offered to interested parties, uponapplication, on

a fee-for-service basis. The verification of some specific recommendations, requirements,

or tolerances contained in the standards can be accomplished only by the use of on-line

inspection procedures. In all instances, a grade can be assigned based on final product

factors or characteristics.

In addition to the U.S. grade standards, grading manuals or instructions for inspection of

severalprocessed fruits and vegetables are available uponrequest for a nominalfee. These

manuals or instructions contain detailed interpretations of the grade standards and provide

step-by-step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the Department after careful consideration of all data and

views submitted,and the Department welcomes suggestions whichmightaid inimproving the

standards in future revisions. Comments may be submitted to, and copies ofstandards and

grading manuals obtained from:

Chief, Processed Products Branch

Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 96456, Rm. 0709, So. Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20090-6456
UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GRADES OF

CANNED GRAPE JUICE

EFFECTIVE MAY 14, 1951

Section Page No.

§52.1341 Product description. ............................................. 2

§52.1342 Types of canned grape juice. ..................................... 2

§52.1343 Styles of canned grape juice. ..................................... 2

§52.1344 Grades of canned grape juice. .................................... 2

§52.1345 Recommended fill of container. ................................... 3

§52.1346 Ascertaining the grade. .......................................... 3

§52.1347 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored. ............... 3

§52.1348 Color. ......................................................... 3

§52.1349 Absence of defects. ............................................. 4

§52.1350 Flavor. ........................................................ 5

§52.1351 Explanation of terms. ............................................ 6

§52.1352 Ascertaining the grade of a lot. .................................... 7

§52.1353 Score sheet for canned grape juice. ............................... 7

Authority: Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, Secs. 203, 205, 60 Stat. 1087, as

amended, 1090, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624).

Note: Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply

with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or with applicable

State laws and regulations.
2

§52.1341 Product description.

Canned grape juice is the unfermented liquid obtained from properly matured fresh

grapes. Such grape juice is prepared without concentration, without dilution, is packed with

or without the addition of sweetening ingredients, and is sufficiently processed by heat to

assure preservation of the product in hermetically sealed containers (either metal or glass).

§52.1342 Types of canned grape juice.

(a) Type I: Concord type (prepared from grapes of the slip-skin varieties of the

Concord type of the Labrusca species).

(b) Type II: Any type other than Concord type (prepared from a single variety of

grapes other than Concord type).

(c) Type III: Blended type (prepared from two or more varieties of grapes).

§52.1343 Styles of canned grape juice.

Unless specifically designated as sweetened, canned grape juice is considered as

unsweetened.

(a) Style I, Unsweetened (without added sweetening ingredient or ingredients).

(b) Style II, Sweetened (with added sweetening ingredient or ingredients).

§52.1344 Grades of canned grape juice.

(a) U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy is the quality of canned grape juice from which

tartrate crystals have been removed; that possesses a good color; that is

practically free from defects; that possesses a good flavor; and thatscores not

less than85pointswhenscored in accordance with the scoring system outlined

in this subpart.

(b) U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice is the quality of canned grape juice from which

tartrate crystals have been removed, that possesses a reasonably good color;

that is reasonably free from defects; thatpossesses a reasonably good flavor;

and that scores not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the

scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(c) U.S. Grade D or Substandard is the qualityof canned grape juice that fails to

meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice.
3

§52.1345 Recommended fill of container.

The recommended fill of container is not incorporated in the grades of the finished product

since fill of container, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purposes of these grades. It is

recommended thateachcontainer be filled as full as practicable with grape juice and thatthe

product occupy not less than 90 percent of the volume of the container.

§52.1346 Ascertaining the grade.

(a) The grade of canned grape juice is ascertained by considering, in conjunction

with the requirements of the respective grade, the respective ratings for the

factors of color, absence of defects, and flavor.

(b) The relative importance of eachfactorwhichis scoredis expressed numerically

on the scale of 100. The maximum number of points that may be given such

factors are:

Factors Points

Color ............................ 40

Absence of defects ................ 20

Flavor ............................ 40

Total Score ................. 100

§52.1347 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored.

The essential variations within each factor which is scored are so described that the value

may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. The numerical range within

each factor which is scored is inclusive (for example, 17 to 20 points means 17, 18, 19, or

20 points).

§52.1348 Color.

(a) "A" classification. Canned grape juice that possesses a good color may be

given a score of34 to 40 points. Good color has the following meanings with

respect to the types of canned grape juice:

(1) Type I. A bright purple or bright reddish-purple color typical of properly

prepared and properly processed juice from Concord type grapes.
4

(2) Types II and III. A bright color typical of properly prepared and properly

processed juice characteristic of the varietal type or varietaltypes from

which prepared.

(b) "B" classification. If the canned grape juice possesses a reasonably good

color, a score of 28 to 33 points may be given. Canned grape juice that falls

into this classification shall notbe graded above U.S.Grade B or U.S. Choice,

regardless of the total score for the product(thisis a limiting rule). Reasonably

good color has the following meanings with respect to the types of canned

grape juice:

(1) Type I: A purple or reddish-purple color typical of canned grape juice

prepared from Concord type grapes and whichcolor maybe slightly dull

purple, slightly dull bluish-purple,or slightly dullreddish-purple but which

is not off-color for any reason:

(2) Types II and III: A color typical ofcanned grape juice characteristic of

the varietal type or varietal types from which prepared and which color

may be slightly dull but which is not off-color for any reason.

(c) "SStd" classification. Canned grape juice that fails to meet the requirements

of paragraph (b) of this sectionmaybe givena score of 0 to 27 points and shall

not be graded above U.S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total

score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§52.1349 Absence of defects.

(a) General. The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from

sediment and other residue, form tartrate crystals, from particles of skin, from

particles of pulp, from particles of seed, and from any other defects.

(b) "A" classification. Canned grape juice that is practically free from defects

maybegivena score of 17 to 20 points. Practically free from defects means

that the canned grape juice may possess a slight amount of sediment and

residue ofanamorphus nature;maypossess notmore thana trace of sediment

and residue of a non-amorphous nature;is practically free from tartrate crystals;

and is free from particles of skin, particles of pulp, particles of seed, and from

any other defects.
5

(c) "B" classification. If the canned grape juice is reasonably free from defects,

a score of 14 to 16 points maybe given. Canned grape juice that falls into this

classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice,

regardlessof the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). Reasonably

free from defects means that the canned grape juice may possess a slight

amount of sediment and residue of an amorphous or non-amorphous nature;

maypossess a slight amount of tartrate crystals; maypossess notmore thana

trace of particles of skin, particles of pulp, particles of seed,and other defects.

(d) "SStd" classification. Canned grape juice that fails to meet the requirements

of paragraph(c) of this sectionmaybe givena score of 0 to 13 points and shall

not be graded above U.S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total

score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§52.1350 Flavor.

(a) "A" classification. Canned grape juice that possesses a good flavor may be

givena score of 34 to 40 points. Good flavor means thatthe flavor is a distinct

and normal flavor, typical of well-matured grapes and that the canned grape

juice is free from any trace of scorching, caramelization, and objectionable

flavors and objectionable odors of any kind. To score in this classification,

canned grape juice shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Brix: Style I, unsweetened--not less than 15.0 degrees.

(2) Brix: Style II, sweetened--not less than 17.0 degrees.

(3) Acid: Not less than 0.60 gram per 100 mL nor more than 1.20 grams

per 100 mL, calculated as tartaric acid.

(4) Brix-acid ratio: For both Style I, unsweetened, and Style II, sweetened,

not less than 14 to 1 nor more than 28 to 1.
6

(b) "B" classification. If the canned grape juice possesses a reasonably good

flavor, a score of 28 to 33 points may be given. Canned grape juice that falls

into this classification shall not be graded above U.S.Grade B or U.S.Choice,

regardlessof the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). Reasonably

good flavor means that the flavor is normal and typical of reasonably wellmatured grapes and that the canned grape juice may be slightly astringent but

is free from any trace of scorching, caramelization, and objectionable flavors

and objectionable odors of any kind. To score in this classification, canned

grape juice shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Brix: Style I, unsweetened--not less than 14.0 degrees.

(2) Brix: Style II, sweetened--not less than 16.0 degrees.

(3) Acid: Not less than 0.45 gram per 100 mL nor more than 1.40 grams

per 100 mL, calculated as tartaric acid.

(4) Brix-acid ratio: For both Style I, unsweetened, and Style II, sweetened,

not less than 11.5 to 1.

(c) "SStd" classification. Canned grape juice that fails to meet the requirements

of paragraph (b) of this sectionmaybe givena score of 0 to 27 points and shall

not be graded above U.S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total

score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§52.1351 Explanation of terms.

(a) Brix means the degrees Brix of canned grape juice when tested with a Brix

hydrometer calibrated at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). If canned grape juice

is tested at a temperature other than 20 degrees C (68 degrees F), the

applicable temperature correctionshall be made to the reading of the scale as

prescribed in Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official

Analytical Chemists. The degrees Brix of canned grape juice may be

determined by any other method which gives equivalent results.

(b) Acid means grams of acid (calculated as tartaric acid) per 100 mL of juice in

canned grape juice determined by titration with standard sodium hydroxide

solution, using phenolphthalein as indicator or any other satisfactory indicator.
7

§52.1352 Ascertaining the grade of a lot.

The grade of a lot of canned grape juice covered by these standards is determined by the

procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of

Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Products Thereof, and Certain Other

Processed Food Products (7 CFR 52.1 through 52.83).

§52.1353 Score sheet for canned grape juice.

Number, size and kind of container

Container marks or identification ...............................................

Label ......................................................................

Liquid measure (Fl ounces) ...................................................

Vacuum (inches) .............................................................

Type .......................................................................

Style .......................................................................

Brix (degrees) ...............................................................

Acid (tartaric: grams/100 mL) ..................................................

Brix-acid ratio ...............................................................

Factors Score points

 Color .........................

 Absence of defects .............

 Flavor ........................

Total score ...............

40

20

 40 

100 

 (A)

 (B)

 (D)

 (A)

 (B)

 (D)

 (A)

 (B)

 (D)

34-40

28-33

 0-27

17-20

14-16

0-13

38-40

28-33

0-27

1/

1/

1/

1/

1/

1/

U.S. Grade .................................................................

1/ Indicates limiting rule.

Published in the Federal Register, February 13, 1957 (22 F.R. 883)

Section 52.1771 amended May 22, 1957 (22 F.R. 3535)