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United States Standards

for Grades of 

Canned Hominy

Effective January 20, 2017
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy 

(81 FR 93572) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since 

March 10, 1958.

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

Marketing Act of 1946, which provides for the development of official U.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 fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops 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 U.S. grade standards and inspection instructions for all fresh and processed fruits,

vegetables, and specialty crops are available on the internet and upon request at the 

address below. These documents provide detailed interpretations of the grade standards 

and provide step-by-step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after careful 

consideration of all data and views submitted during rulemaking. The Department 

welcomes suggestions for improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may be 

submitted to, and copies of standards and inspection instructions obtained from:

Director, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Specialty Crops Program,

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240

Washington, D.C. 20250

__________________________________________________________________________

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627. 

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.

Non-Discrimination Policy: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA 

programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender 

expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, 

political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all 

bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 

American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) 

or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in 

languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter 

all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 

or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy

Section Page No.

Product Description, Color, Styles, and Grades......................................................... 2

§52.3281 Product description...................................................................................... 2

§52.3282 Colors of canned hominy............................................................................. 2

§52.3283 Styles of canned hominy.............................................................................. 2

§52.3284 Grades of canned hominy............................................................................ 2

Fill of Container and Drained Weights ........................................................................ 3

§52.3285 Recommended fill of container. ................................................................... 3

§52.3286 Recommended minimum drained weight..................................................... 3

§52.3287 Compliance with recommended minimum drained weights......................... 4

Factors of Quality.......................................................................................................... 4

§52.3288 Ascertaining the grade................................................................................. 4

§52.3289 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored. ............................. 5

§52.3290 Liquor........................................................................................................... 5

§52.3291 Color............................................................................................................ 6

§52.3292 Defects. ....................................................................................................... 6

§52.3293 Character..................................................................................................... 7

Lot Inspection and Certification................................................................................... 8

§52.3294 Ascertaining the grade of a lot..................................................................... 8

Score Sheet ................................................................................................................... 9

§52.3295 Score sheet for canned hominy. .................................................................. 9
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

2

Product Description, Color, Styles, and Grades

§52.3281 Product description.

Canned hominy means the canned product prepared from clean, sound field corn, 

either white or golden (yellow), by removal of the pericarp, by precooking or other 

processing, soaking, and sorting. The product is packed in a liquid packing medium or 

in a jelled packing medium, in accordance with good commercial practice, and is 

sufficiently processed by heat to assure preservation in hermetically sealed containers.

§52.3282 Colors of canned hominy.

(a) White.

(b) Golden (yellow).

§52.3283 Styles of canned hominy.

(a) Style I Whole means canned whole kernel hominy which has been prepared 

from whole kernels of white or yellow field corn and is packed in a liquid packing 

medium.

Vacuum pack canned whole kernel hominy means whole kernel hominy 

packed in not more than 20 percent, by weight, of liquid packing medium and the 

container is closed under conditions creating a high vacuum.

(b) Style II Grits means canned hominy which has been prepared from coarse 

kernel particles of white or yellow field corn from which the pericarp and germ 

have been removed and is packed in a liquid packing medium.

Vacuum pack canned hominy grits means hominy grits packed in not more 

than 20 percent, by weight, of liquid packing medium and the container is closed 

under conditions creating a high vacuum.

(c) Style III Grits, Jelled Pack means canned hominy which has been prepared 

from coarse kernel particles of white or yellow field corn form which the pericarp 

and germ have been removed and is packed in a jelled packing medium.

§52.3284 Grades of canned hominy.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of canned hominy that possesses similar varietal 

characteristics; that possesses a normal flavor; that possesses a good color; that 

is practically free from defects; that possesses a good character; that with 

respect to Style I Whole and Style II Grits possesses a good liquor; and that for 

those factors which are scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in 

this subpart the total score is not less than 85 points: Provided, That Style I may 

be fairly free from defects with respect to crushed or broken kernels and Style I 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

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and Style II may possess a fairly good liquor, if the total score is not less than 85 

points.

(b) U.S. Grade C is the quality of canned hominy that possesses similar varietal 

characteristics; that possesses a normal flavor; that possesses a fairly good 

color; that is fairly free from defects; that possesses a fairly good character; that 

with respect to Style I and Style II possesses a fairly good liquor; and that scores 

not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system 

outlined in this subpart.

(c) Substandard is the quality of canned hominy that fails to meet the requirements 

of U.S. Grade C.

Fill of Container and Drained Weights

§52.3285 Recommended fill of container.

The recommended fill of container for canned hominy is not incorporated in the grades 

of the finished product, since fill of container, as such, is not a factor of quality for the 

purpose of these grades. It is recommended that each container of canned hominy be 

filled as full as practicable with hominy without impairment of quality.

§52.3286 Recommended minimum drained weight.

The minimum drained weight recommendations in Table No. 1 of this section are not 

incorporated in the grades of the finished product, since drained weight, as such, is not 

a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. The drained weight of canned 

hominy is determined by emptying the contents of the container upon a United States 

Standard No. 8 sieve of proper diameter so as to distribute the product evenly, inclining 

the sieve to facilitate drainage, and allow draining for two minutes. The drained weight 

is the weight of the sieve and the hominy less the weight of the dry sieve. A sieve 8 

inches in diameter is used for the No. 2-1/2 size can (401 x 411) and smaller sizes and 

a sieve 12 inches in diameter is used for containers larger than the No. 2-1/2 size can.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

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Table No. 1

Recommended Minimum Drained Weight (in ounces)

of Hominy Styles No. I and No. II

Container 

size or 

designation

Dimensions (inches) or water 

capacity (fluid ounces)

Drained weight (ounces)

Style I Style II

No. 1 (picnic) 2-11/16 x 4 6-1/2 7-3/4

No. 1 (tall) 3-1/16 x 4-11/16 9-3/4 11-3/4

No. 300 3 x 4-7/16 9 10-3/4

No. 303 3-3/16 x 4-6/16 10 12

No. 303 jar 17.0 10-1/2 12-1/2

No. 2 3-7/16 x 4-9/16 12 14-1/4

No. 2-1/2 4-1/16 x 4-11/16 18 21-1/4

No. 2-1/2 jar 28.3 17-1/4 21

No. 10 6-3/16 x 7 72 76

§52.3287 Compliance with recommended minimum drained weights.

Compliance with the recommended minimum drained weight for canned hominy is 

determined by averaging the drained weights of all of the containers which are 

representative of a specific lot. Such lot is considered as meeting recommendations, if:

(a) At least one-half of the containers meet the recommended minimum drained 

weight;

(b) The drained weights of the containers which do not meet the recommended 

minimum drained weight are within the range of variability of good commercial 

practice; and

(c) The average drained weight of all of the containers which are representative of 

the lot does not fall below the minimum recommended drained weight.

Factors of Quality

§52.3288 Ascertaining the grade.

(a) General. In addition to considering other requirements outlined in the standards, 

the following quality factors are evaluated in ascertaining the grade of the 

product:
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

5

(1) Factors not rated by score points.

(i) Varietal characteristics.

(ii) Flavor.

(2) Factors rated by score points. The relative importance of each factor 

which is rated is expressed numerically on the scale of 100. The 

maximum number of points that may be given each such factor is:

Factors: Points

Liquor 10

Color 30

Defects 30

Character 30

Total Score 100

(b) Normal flavor means that the product has a characteristic normal flavor and 

odor and is free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

§52.3289 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored.

The essential variations within each factor which is rated by score points are so 

described that the value may be ascertained for such factors and expressed 

numerically. The numerical range within each such factor is inclusive (for example, 25 

to 30 points means 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 points).

§52.3290 Liquor.

(a) General. The factor of liquor is not scored in Style III Grits, Jelled Pack. The 

other three factors shall be scored and the total score shall be multiplied by 100 

and divided by 90, dropping any fractions, to determine the total score for the 

product.

(b) “A” classification. Canned hominy that possesses good liquor may be given a 

score of 9 or 10 points.

Good liquor means that the liquor is light in color, may be slightly cloudy or 

slightly opaque, and may be slightly viscous but is reasonably free from starchy 

globules and sediment.
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

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(c) “C” classification. If the canned hominy possesses fairly good liquor, a score 

of 7 or 8 points may be given.

Fairly good liquor means that the liquor may be definitely cloudy or opaque and 

viscous but not jelled, and is fairly free from starchy globules and sediment.

(d) “SStd” classification. Canned hominy that fails to meet the requirements of 

paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 6 points and shall not 

be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score for the product (this is 

a limiting rule).

§52.3291 Color.

(a) “A” classification. Canned hominy that possesses a good color may be given a 

score of 25 to 30 points.

Good color means that the kernels possess a practically uniform, bright color 

typical of white or golden (yellow) hominy, as the case may be, and that the 

product contains not more than 2 percent, by count, of off-variety kernels or 

pieces of kernels.

(b) “C” classification. If the canned hominy possesses a fairly good color, a score 

of 21 to 24 points may be given. Canned hominy that falls into this classification 

shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the 

product (this is a limiting rule).

Fairly good color means that the kernels or pieces of kernels may possess a 

fairly uniform, typical color and may be slightly dull, and that the product contains 

not more than 3 percent, by count, of off-variety kernels or pieces of kernels.

(c) “SStd” classification. Canned hominy that fails to meet the requirements of 

paragraph (b) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 20 points and shall not 

be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this 

is a limiting rule).

§52.3292 Defects.

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

extraneous material, from kernels or pieces of kernels with pericarp attached, 

from broken kernels in Style I, and from damaged and seriously damaged 

kernels or pieces of kernels.

(1) Harmless extraneous material means vegetable material such as pieces 

of cob, hulls, and loose germs.

(2) Damage means kernels or pieces of kernels damaged by discoloration, 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

7

insect injury, pathological injury, or damaged by other means to the extent 

that the appearance or eating quality is materially affected.

(3) Serious damage means kernels or pieces of kernels damaged to such an 

extent that the appearance or eating quality is seriously affected.

(b) “A” classification. Canned hominy that is practically free from defects may be 

given a score of 25 to 30 points.

Practically free from defects means that the product is practically free from 

harmless extraneous material, from kernels or pieces of kernels with pericarp 

attached, and that not more than 2 percent, by weight, of the kernels or pieces of 

kernels may be damaged and seriously damaged, and of such 2 percent, not 

more than one-fourth thereof or one-half of 1 percent maybe seriously damaged, 

and with respect to Style I not more than 10 percent, by count, of the kernels may 

be broken: Provided, That the aforesaid defects, individually or collectively, do 

not more than slightly affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(c) “C” classification. If the canned hominy is fairly free from defects, a score of 21 

to 24 points may be given. Canned hominy that scores in this classification, 

except for broken kernels in Style I, shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, 

regardless of the total score for the product (this is a partial limiting rule).

Fairly free from defects means that the product is fairly free from harmless 

extraneous material, from kernels or pieces of kernels with pericarp attached, 

and that not more than 3 percent, by weight, of the kernels or pieces of kernels 

maybe damaged and seriously damaged, and of such 3 percent not more than 

one-third thereof or 1 percent may be seriously damaged and with respect to 

Style I not more than 20 percent, by count, of the kernels may be broken: 

Provided, That the aforesaid defects, individually or collectively, do not seriously 

affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(d) “SStd” classification. Canned hominy that fails to meet the requirements of 

paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 20 points and shall not 

be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this 

is a limiting rule).

§52.3293 Character.

(a) General. The factor of character refers to the tenderness of the product and 

freedom from hard or excessively soft kernels or pieces of kernels.

(b) “A” classification. Canned hominy that possesses a good character may be 

given a score of 26 to 30 points.

Good character means that the kernels or pieces of kernels may be reasonably 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

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firm and tender, and reasonably free from hard kernels and from excessively soft 

kernels or pieces of kernels.

(c) “C” classification. If the canned hominy possesses a fairly good character, a 

score of 21 to 25 points may be given. Canned hominy that falls into this 

classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total 

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

Fairly good character means that the kernels or pieces of kernels may be fairly 

firm and tender and fairly free from hard kernels and excessively soft kernels or 

pieces of kernels.

(d) “SStd” classification. Canned hominy that fails to meet the requirements of 

paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 20 points and shall not 

be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this 

is a limiting rule).

Lot Inspection and Certification

§52.3294 Ascertaining the grade of a lot.

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

procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of 

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

Processed Food Products (7 CFR 52.1 through 52.83).
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Hominy (January 20, 2017)

9

Score Sheet

§52.3295 Score sheet for canned hominy.

Number, size, and kind of container

Container marks or identification

Label 

Net weight (ounces)

Vacuum (inches)

Drained weight (ounces)

Color – White, Golden (yellow)

Similar Varietal Characteristics (yes, no)

Style (I – Whole, II – Grits Vacuum Pack, and III – Grits Jelled Pack)

Factors Grade Score Points

Liquor 10

“A” 9-10

“C” 7-8

“SStd” 0-61

Color 30

“A” 25-30

“C” 21-241

“SStd” 0-201

Defects 30

“A” 25-30

“C” 21-242

“SStd” 0-201

Character 30

“A” 26-30

“C” 21-251

“SStd” 0-201

Total Score 100

Flavor and Odor

U.S. Grade

1Indicates limiting rule.

2

Indicates partial limiting rule