A-A-20162B 

April 21, 2008

SUPERSEDING 

A-A-20162A 

March 24, 1998 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

SALAD DRESSINGS, POURABLE 

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

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID). 

1. SCOPE. This CID covers pourable salad dressings, 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. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following:

 - Type(s), class(es), and style(s) of salad dressings required (Sec. 3). 

 - When the age requirement at the time of delivery is other than specified (Sec. 6.7). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 9.2) or USDA certification (Sec. 9.3). 

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following:

 - Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 9.1 with 9.1.1) or (Sec. 9.1 with 9.1.2). 

 - Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 10). 

3. CLASSIFICATION. The salad dressings shall conform to the following list which shall be 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

Types, classes, and styles. 

Type I - Regular 

Type II - Lite or Light (21 CFR § 101.56) 

Type III - Reduced fat (21 CFR § 101.62) 

Type IV - Fat free (21 CFR § 101.62) 

AMSC N/A FSC 8950 

METRIC
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 Class A - French (21 CFR § 169.115) 

 Style 1 - Creamy 

 Style 2 - Creamy sweet and spicy 

 Class B - Blue cheese 

 Class C - Italian 

 Style 1 - Italian (separating) 

 Style 2 - Creamy 

 Style 3 - Pesto 

 Style 4 - Cheese 

 Class D - Ranch 

 Class E - Thousand island 

 Class F - Tomato and bacon 

 Class G - Creamy cucumber 

 Class H - Cole slaw 

 Class I - Green goddess 

 Class J - Caesar 

 Style 1 - Creamy 

 Style 2 - Classic (separating) 

 Class K - Russian 

 Class L - Honey mustard 

 Class M - Parmesan 

 Style 1 - Creamy parmesan with cracked peppercorn 

 Style 2 - Parmesan ranch 

 Class N - Creamy roasted garlic 

 Class O - Sweet and sour 

 Class P - Poppy seed 

 Class Q - Vinaigrette (separating) 

 Style 1 - Red wine 

 Style 2 - White wine 

 Style 3 - Olive oil 

 Style 4 - Herb 

 Style 5 - Balsamic 

 Style 6 - Raspberry 
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 Class R - Other 

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

products shall meet the requirements of the:

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 6). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 7). 

 - Regulatory requirements (Sec. 8). 

 - Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 9). 

 - Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 10). 

5. DEFINITIONS. 

5.1 Lite or Light. In accordance with 21 CFR §101.56, depending on the percent calories from 

fat, light means that either a) the fat content is reduced by at least 50 percent per reference 

amount customarily consumed, or b) the number of calories is reduced by at least one-third (33 

1/3 percent) per reference amount customarily consumed. 1/ 

5.2 Reduced fat. In accordance with 21 CFR §101.62, reduced fat means that the food contains 

at least 25 percent less fat per reference amount customarily consumed than an appropriate 

reference food. 1/ 

5.3 Fat free. In accordance with 21 CFR §101.62, fat free means that the fat content shall be 

less than 0.5 g per reference amount customarily consumed and shall be less than 0.5 g per 

labeled serving. 1/ 

1/ The Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed for dressings for salads is 30 g according to 

21 CFR § 101.12. 

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS. 

6.1 Processing. The salad dressings shall be processed in accordance with good manufacturing 

practices (21 CFR Part 110). 

6.2 Flavor and odor. The salad dressings shall be flavorful, highly palatable, and free from 

undesirable flavors and odors. The salad dressings shall have a flavor and odor typical of the 

class they represent.

6.3 Appearance and color. The appearance and color of the salad dressing shall be typical of 

the type and class represented. 
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6.4 Texture. The salad dressing texture shall be smooth and creamy, non-separating except for 

Class C, Style 1; Class J, Style 2; and Class Q, Styles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 which may separate and 

be typical of the type and class represented. 

6.5 Consistency. Pourable salad dressings which are typically of a creamy or smooth 

consistency shall remain in a homogenous emulsified state and show no separation (of oil or 

water) except for Class C, Style 1; Class J, Style 2; and Class Q, Styles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. 

6.6 Foreign material. All ingredients and finished product shall be clean, sound, wholesome, 

and free from evidence of rodent or insect infestation. The salad dressings shall be free from 

foreign material, such as, but not limited to, dirt, insect parts, hair, wood, glass, or metal. 

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

order, the salad dressings shall be processed and packaged not more than 180 days prior to 

delivery to the purchaser. Age requirements for Department of Defense (DoD) procurements 

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

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

distributor shall certify that the salad dressings provided shall meet the salient characteristics of 

this CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be 

the same salad dressings offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the 

right to require proof of conformance. 

8. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered salad dressings shall comply with all 

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

preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of salad dressings within the 

commercial marketplace. Delivered salad dressings 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 salad dressings shall comply with the 

allergen labeling requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. 

9. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 9.2 or 9.3; purchaser

may specify 9.1 with 9.1.1 or 9.1 with 9.1.2. 

9.1 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. 
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9.1.1 Plant systems audit. A plant systems audit (PSA) conducted by USDA, Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS), or another audit performed by a third party auditing service and 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 Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations 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. The AMS PSA determines the 

manufacturer's ability to produce under this CID, if the products of interest are identified at the 

time of the PSA.)

9.1.2 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA, AMS, 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. (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 Title 21 Code of Federal 

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

Holding Human Food.)

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

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the finished salad dressings 

distributed meets or exceeds the requirements of this CID.

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

product quality or acceptability or both be determined, the Processed Products Branch (PPB), 

Fruit and Vegetable Programs (FVP), AMS, USDA shall be the certifying program. PPB 

inspectors shall certify the quality and acceptability of the salad dressings in accordance with 

PPB procedures which include selecting random samples of the salad dressings, evaluating the 

samples for conformance with the salient characteristics of this CID and other contractual 

requirements, and documenting the findings on official PPB score sheets and/or certificates. In 

addition, when required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, PPB inspectors will 

examine the salad dressings for conformance to the United States Standards for Condition of 

Food Containers in effect on the date of the solicitation. 

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

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

11. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 9.3 is specified in the solicitation, 

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

condition of samples of packaged salad dressings and compliance with requirements in the 

following areas: 
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 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 6). 

 - Packaging requirements (Sec. 10 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order). 

12. REFERENCE NOTES.

12.1 USDA certification contact. For USDA, AMS certification, contact the Branch Chief, 

PPB, FVP, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 

20250-0247 telephone (202) 720-4693, Fax (202) 690-1527, or via E-mail: 

terry.bane@usda.gov. 

12.2 Sources of documents. 

12.2.1 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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html. 

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

from: Branch Chief, PPB, FVP, 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. 

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

which may improve this document should be sent to: Commander, Defense Supply Center 

Philadelphia, ATTN: DSCP-FTSA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092 or 

Fax (215) 737-2963, or via E-mail: Sally.A.Gallagher@dla.mil. 

Military activities should submit requests for copies of this CID to: Standardization 

Documents Order Desk, Document Automation and Production Service, 700 Robbins 

Avenue, Building 4D, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094 or on the Internet at: 

http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/. 
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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Custodians DOJ - BOP 

 HHS - NIH, IHS, FDA 

 Army - GL USDA - FV 

 Navy - SA VA - OSS 

 Air Force - 35 

Review Activities PREPARING ACTIVITY:

 Army - MD, QM DLA - SS 

 Navy - MC (Project No. 8950-2008-003) 

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 http://assist.daps.dla.mil. 

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 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.