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Frozen Lima Beans

Inspection Instructions

September 2016
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, 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
These instructions contain information and guidelines to help personnel of the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division 

uniformly apply and interpret U.S. grade standards, other similar specifications, and 

special procedures.

These guidelines do not supersede the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or any 

other applicable Federal or State laws or regulations. Compliance with these statutes is

mandatory. This publication supersedes any previously issued inspection instructions.

The citation of any data, criteria, techniques, illustrations, copyrighted material, or 

pictorial representations accredited to private authorship is used with the permission of 

the individual(s) or source(s) cited. Unless a specific reference is cited, the information 

in this manual has been derived from sources available to the public or from the 

technical knowledge of USDA personnel.

Except for official USDA inspection aids or devices and color guides (or standards) 

produced under license of the Department of Agriculture, the mention of any supplier, 

patented device, product, brand name, or equipment does not imply endorsement by 

USDA over any other similar or equally effective material.

Inspection instructions are issued by USDA after careful consideration of all data and 

views submitted. The Department welcomes suggestions for improving the inspection 

instructions in future revisions. 

Comments may be submitted to: 

Director, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Specialty Crops Program

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240 

Washington, DC 20250

These instructions replace the Grading Manual for Frozen Lima Beans dated 

March 1977, and include, but not limited to, all previous correspondence, memos, 

inspection instructions, or procedures.
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
iii

INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR FROZEN LIMA BEANS

SECTION PAGE NO.

GENERAL.......................................................................................................................... 1

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... 1

PRODUCTION FLOW ........................................................................................................... 2

INSPECTION AND GRADING ................................................................................................. 3

EQUIPMENT, INSPECTION AIDS, AND INSTRUCTIONS.............................................................. 3

SAMPLE UNIT SIZE............................................................................................................. 3

LOT INSPECTION........................................................................................................... 4

IN-PLANT, ON-LINE INSPECTION..................................................................................... 4

WEIGHT ............................................................................................................................ 5

NET WEIGHT................................................................................................................ 5

VARIETIES......................................................................................................................... 5

SIMILAR VARIETAL CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................. 6

QUALITY FACTORS ............................................................................................................ 7

COLOR ............................................................................................................................. 7

DEFECTS .......................................................................................................................... 8

AGGREGATE PIECES OF BEANS ...................................................................................... 8

BLEMISHED.................................................................................................................. 9

DEFECT ACTION LEVELS ............................................................................................... 9

HARMLESS EXTRANEOUS VEGETABLE MATERIAL (HEVM)............................................... 9

HARMFUL PLANT MATERIAL........................................................................................... 9

LIGHT DISCOLORATION ................................................................................................. 9

SERIOUSLY BLEMISHED .............................................................................................. 10

SHRIVELED BEANS ..................................................................................................... 10

SOLANACEOUS PLANTS .............................................................................................. 11

INSPECTION AID FOR DEFECTS ......................................................................................... 12

SCORING DEFECTS (ON-LINE INSPECTION) ........................................................................ 13

TENDERNESS AND MATURITY ........................................................................................... 14

FLAVOR .......................................................................................................................... 14

APPENDIX I – INSPECTION AID 7 ....................................................................................... 15
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

1

GENERAL

The United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans is a Variables Standard. 

In a variables standard the number of defective sample units (deviants) allowed for a 

given sample size is referred to as the acceptance number (or the deviant rate). 

Variables standards use acceptance numbers of 0 deviants in 3, 1 deviant in 6, 2 

deviants in 13, 3 deviants in 21, and 4 deviants in 29 samples. Sampling plans and 

deviant rates for frozen lima beans are provided in the AIM Sampling manual. 

The grade of frozen lima beans may be determined by considering, in conjunction with 

the requirements of the respective grade, the respective ratings for the factors of color, 

and defects. 

The relative importance of each scoring factor is expressed numerically on the scale of 

100. The maximum number of points that may be given each factor is: 

Factors Points 

Color 60 

Defects 40 

Total Score 100

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans cover only the product prepared 

from the succulent seed of the lima bean plant. Soaked lima beans are not permitted. 

Lima beans that are held in tanks of water with the intent of improving the quality of the 

beans are considered soaked lima beans. Transportation of shelled lima beans in water 

from the harvesting site to the processing site is not considered soaking; nor is holding 

shelled lima beans in tanks of water while the beans are waiting to be processed. 

Lima Bean Components 

Hilum

Seed Coat (skin)
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

2

PRODUCTION FLOW

Lima Bean Harvest

Transport

Remove Foreign Material

Wash

Sort

Blanch/Cool

Freeze

Package

Inspect

Ship

Cotyledon

(Two Cotyledon per bean)
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

3

INSPECTION AND GRADING

EQUIPMENT, INSPECTION AIDS, AND INSTRUCTIONS

 U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Lima Beans

 Inspection Aid 106 Universal Sizer

 Inspection Aid 7 Frozen Lima Bean Color Guide – Appendix I

 Color Standards for Frozen Lima Beans

 AIM Inspection Series Manuals

o Condition of Food Container manual;

o Foreign Material Manual;

o General Procedures Manual;

o Safety Manual;

o Sampling Manual;

o Sanitation Manual; and

o Technical Procedures Manual

 FDA Food Defect Action Level - Though not specifically identified in the DALs, 

MPM-V104 provides instructions for green and wax beans, lima (butter) beans, 

peas, cowpeas, black-eyed peas, field peas in frozen and canned (fresh and 

canned dry) styles. Please refer to the FDA Macro-Analytical Procedures 

Manual for MPM-V104.

 Scale, Ruler or inspection aid for square areas, pencil or pen, 

 Trays – white, shallow laboratory trays for 16-ounce containers and smaller, 

deep, large sized trays for 2-1/2 pounds or larger, 

 Stainless steel covered cooking utensil and source of heat for cooking, fork, 

 SC 364-87E Score Sheet for Frozen Lima Beans

SAMPLE UNIT SIZE

Uniformity in the preparation and performance of sampling procedures are a 

fundamental part of Division services. The AIM Sampling Manual sections on Sampling 

Procedure and Sampling Rate (Table II) provide guidance on the procedures used in 

sampling frozen lima beans. Lot size and container size determine sampling rates.

Arranging Samples and Recording Code Marks and Label Information 

Arrange containers to aid the evaluation of data. Generally, code marks that are 

identical are grouped together; normally in ascending numerical order from left to right if 

the marks so indicate. Any continuity with respect to individual lots must be retained. 

Refer to the AIM General Procedures Manual for additional score sheet completion 

procedures.
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

4

LOT INSPECTION

Use the entire contents of the container. When sampling large containers, the sampling 

rate is contained in the Regulations, 7 CFR 52.38 (which may be found at the following 

internet address:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR). 

Record inspection results on SC 364-87E, score sheet for frozen lima beans. 

IN-PLANT, ON-LINE INSPECTION

Select a 30-ounce sample unit (3-10 oz. packages; or 30-oz. from large containers such

as tote bins or institutional packages).

 Select 200 beans at random from the 30-ounce sample. Weigh. Use this weight to 

substitute for a count in subsequent sample units. Then count and weigh only every 

sixth sample unit. Use 200 beans to determine the following:

o Color; and

o All defects, other harmless extraneous vegetable material (HEVM), and 

seriously blemished beans.

Return the 200 beans to the 30-ounce sample unit.

 Use 30-ounces to determine:

o HEVM;

o Prerequisite quality factors; and 

o Seriously blemished beans 

Seriously blemished beans are based on percent, by count. Use the count/weight 

relationship established to estimate the bean count in 30-ounces. 

Example: 

200 beans weigh 2.5 ounces, 30-ounces contains approximately 2,400 beans.

Twelve (12) seriously blemished beans found in this 30-ounce sample would equal 

1/2 of 1 percent.
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

5

WEIGHT

NET WEIGHT

Processed foods are commonly packed to meet a prescribed net weight or content, and 

are labeled accordingly. This net weight or content may be specified in a purchase 

specification or contract. In-depth instructions on performing net weights may be found 

in the AIM Technical Procedures Manual.

VARIETIES

Frozen lima beans must be classified by varietal type because of the different grade 

criteria for each type. The U.S. standards classify frozen lima beans into three types:

 Thin-seeded, 

 Thick-seeded Baby Potato (no image available), and

 Thick-seeded
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

6

 Size comparison image 

Images courtesy of Emmalea Garver Ernest, Associate Scientist, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Program, University of Delaware 

October 19, 2007

Baby limas (thin seed) are in the 15-18 mm range when succulent and 5-6 mm thick. 

Thick seed limas are in the range of 19-25 mm long and 15+ mm thick.

One industry practice is to screen small sieve size beans from thick-seeded varietal 

types and label the products as “Baby.” Under these circumstances, inspection must be 

accomplished with the information that the inspector can verify.

Butter peas, commonly grown in the South, have been determined by the FDA to be 

lima beans. Speckled butter beans are lima beans but should be graded under the U.S. 

Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter Beans.

SIMILAR VARIETAL CHARACTERISTICS

Easily noticeable mixtures of lima bean varietal types are Substandard. However, 

mixtures of thin-seeded and thick-seeded Baby Potato lima beans are not easily 

noticeable. Do not classify them Substandard. Allow 10 percent, by count, of lima 

beans in the sample unit to be of distinctly different color characteristics, except for 

speckled butter beans. Under the factor of color, score any color variations that are 

caused by dissimilar varieties.

Thin-seeded

Thick-seeded
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

7

Speckled butter beans sometimes occur in green lima beans. Allow two (2) speckled 

butter beans in any single sample unit. If this allowance is exceeded, the grade is 

Substandard.

QUALITY FACTORS

COLOR

Evaluation of color involves the following determinations:

 Percentage of green lima beans and white lima beans; and 

 Overall brightness of the sample unit and any other condition that affects the 

entire sample unit, such as off-color.

Each individual lima bean is only one of three color classes:

 Green;

 Pale-green (less than green but not white); or

 White.

Example of thawed lima beans spread out on the frozen lima bean color standard. This 

image is not to be used for color comparison purposes.
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

8

Color limits are fixed by the USDA Frozen Lima Bean Color Standards. Instructions and 

a scoring guide accompany the standards. When calculating the percent green, 

remember to add the percent white and the percent less than green to determine the 

percent green or, 

100 percent – (percent white + percent less than green) = percent green. 

The U.S. standards require removing skins from thin-seeded lima beans before 

classifying color. Thick-seeded and thick-seeded Baby Potato lima beans are classified 

for color with the skins on the beans. 

Color scores are determined using Inspection Aid 7 Frozen Lima Bean Guide for Color 

Scores. Inspection Aid 7 is attached as Appendix I of this document.

Exercise care when using the color standards. Clean surfaces with a soft nonabrasive 

cloth using warm water and a mild soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Avoid 

prolonged immersion in water. Store the standards in their envelope, away from heat 

and light, when not in use.

DEFECTS

AGGREGATE PIECES OF BEANS

Outlined in the U.S. standards, the allowance for pieces is in the inspection aid for 

defects within these instructions. The percent, by count, of pieces of beans in the 

sample is determined by dividing the total number of pieces of beans by the total 

number of beans and pieces of beans, and multiplying the quotient by 100.
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

9

BLEMISHED

Brown, black, or other discoloration; pathological injury; or any other defect that 

materially affects the appearance or eating quality of the beans. Classify smalldiameter insect damage with discoloration as “blemished.”

DEFECT ACTION LEVELS

Though not specifically identified in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 

Defect Action Levels, Macroanalytical Procedures Manual (MPM)-V104 provides 

instructions for green and wax beans, lima (butter) beans, peas, cowpeas, black-eyed 

peas, field peas in frozen and canned (fresh and canned dry) styles. Please refer to the 

FDA web site for MPM-V104 at the following address: 

 

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodscienceresearch/laboratorymethods/macroanalyticalproced

uresmanualmpm/default.htm.

HARMLESS EXTRANEOUS VEGETABLE MATERIAL (HEVM)

Predominantly flat or predominantly cylindrical, green, tender vegetable material, such 

as pieces of pods or leaves and stems of the lima bean plant; and predominantly 

spherical vegetable material, such as seeds from other plants. 

HARMFUL PLANT MATERIAL

Consider harmful plant material, such as puncture vine and foxtail seedheads, under 

guidelines in the AIM Foreign Material Manual.

LIGHT DISCOLORATION

Discolored hilum, downy mildew, or other light, scald-like discoloration of the skin of the 

beans. This condition may also be caused by the friction of the lima beans rubbing 

together during harvesting. Holding lima beans too long in storage prior to processing 

may contribute to light discoloration. Follow the guide in the inspection aid for defects in 

this manual.
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

10

SERIOUSLY BLEMISHED

Worm damage, large-diameter insect damage with discoloration, water-damage (moldy 

or decayed), or any other defect that seriously affects the appearance or eating quality 

of the beans. Ordinarily, these defects are serious enough to remove before eating.

SHRIVELED BEANS

The cotyledons before, and after cooking are dry, and very tough or hard.
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

11

SOLANACEOUS PLANTS 

Literature indicates that the toxin in nightshade berries is heat labile (rendered harmless 

by heat) and therefore non-toxic in processed foods.

Summary of Requirements for “Harmless” Designation

Lima Bean Plant must be green and tender

Flat Cylindrical

Non Lima Bean Plant

Spherical

Pods and leaves Stems

Night shade berries

Morning Glory seeds and pods

Other weed seeds
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

12

INSPECTION AID FOR DEFECTS

KINDS OF DEFECT DEFECTS PERMISSIBLE IN SCORE

Harmless extraneous vegetable material for: 

Each 30 ounces net

Predominantly flat pieces, aggregate area

and

Predominantly cylindrical pieces, aggregate length

or

Each 30 ounces net

Predominantly spherical piece not more than 1⁄4 inch in 

diameter

40 39 38 37 36

3/16

None

None

3/8

3/4

None

3/8

1-1/2

None

9/16

1-1/2

1 piece

9/16 sq. 

in.

1-1/2 inch

1 piece

Pieces of beans (percent by count) 1 3 5 5 5

Shriveled and sprouted beans (percent by count) None None 1⁄2 of 1 1 1

Blemished beans (percent by count) 

including

Seriously blemished (percent by count)

1⁄2 of 1 

including

0

1

including

0

1

including

0

1

including

1⁄2 of 1

2

including

1⁄2 of 1

Discolored hilum and other light discoloration too slight to 

score as blemishes (percent by count) 5 10 15 15 15

Harmless extraneous vegetable material for: 

Each 30 ounces net

Predominantly flat pieces, aggregate area

and

Predominantly cylindrical pieces, aggregate length 

or

Each 30 ounces net

Predominantly spherical piece not more than 1⁄4 inch in 

diameter

135 134 133 132

3/4

1-1/2

1 piece

3/4

1-7/8

1 piece

1-1/8

2-1/4

2 pieces

 1-1/8 sq. in.

2-1/4 inch

2 piece

Pieces of beans (percent by count) 6 8 10 10

Shriveled and sprouted beans (percent by count) 1 2 4 4

Blemished beans (percent by count) 

including

Seriously blemished (percent by count)

2

Including

1⁄2 of 1

2

Including

1⁄2 of 1

2

Including

1

 3

Including

1

Discolored hilum and other light discoloration too slight to 

score as blemishes (percent by count) 20 25 30 35

Harmless extraneous vegetable material for:

Each 30 ounces net

Predominantly flat piece, aggregate area

and

Predominantly cylindrical pieces, aggregate length 

or

Each 30 ounces net

Predominantly spherical piece not more than 1⁄4 inch in 

diameter

231 230 229 228

1-1/2

2-5/8

2 piece

1-7/8

2-5/8

2 piece

2-1/4

3

3 piece

2-1/4 sq. in.

3 inch

3 piece

Pieces of beans (percent by count) 12 15 15 15

Shriveled and sprouted beans (percent by count) 5 6 7 8

Blemished beans (percent by count) 

including

seriously blemished (percent by count)

3

including

1

3

including

1

4

including

1-1/2

4

including

2

Discolored hilum and other light discoloration too slight to 

score as blemishes (percent by count)

40 60 80 100

 

1 Partial limiting rule, (applicable to shriveled, sprouted and blemished beans only).

2 Limiting rule
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

13

SCORING DEFECTS (ON-LINE INSPECTION)

Follow the inspection aid for defects provided with these instructions. Since the 

inspection aid and the sample unit are standardized for 30 ounces, the score point value 

to be given for defects is determined by the most offending defect in the sample unit. 

Score HEVM on the basis of the sample unit, not on the sample average. 

Example:

30-Ounces

Sample unit number 1 2 3 4 5 6

 Flat

HEVM Cylindrical

 Spherical

3/8 in2 3/8 in2

3/4 in

1 2

Pieces of bean 1% 1% 3% 1% 2%

Blemished 2% 1/2% 1% 2%

Seriously Blemished 1/2% 1/2%

Score points 37 36 39 39 33 36 HEVM (Spherical) most offending. Blemished most offending. HEVM (Flat) most offending. Pieces of beans most offending. HEVM (Spherical) most offending. Blemished most offending.
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

14

TENDERNESS AND MATURITY

Variations in the processing and cooking of frozen lima beans affect cotyledon texture. 

Tenderness, to some degree, can be cooked into lima beans. Follow the USDA lima 

bean cooking procedure located in the AIM Technical Procedures manual, section on

frozen and refrigerated product cooking procedures. 

Make a tentative evaluation of tenderness and maturity on the thawed sample unit. Use 

the cooked sample unit for the final evaluation. Tenderness is a prerequisite quality 

factor and is classified as follows:

 Tender: The lima beans are succulent and tender for eating without material 

starchiness.

 Reasonably tender: The lima beans are slightly firm and mealy, or slightly dry.

 Fairly tender: The lima beans are definitely mealy or firm and dry, but are not 

 excessively mealy, firm, or dry.

 Substandard: The lima beans are excessively dry, crumbly, or hard.

FLAVOR

Flavor may be affected by maturity, delayed processing, inadequate blanching, or the 

presence of dirty cotyledons. An earthy taste may accompany units that have dirt 

around the hilum or attached to the cotyledons. Water-damaged lima beans may taste 

musty. Flavor is a prerequisite quality factor and is classified as follows:

 Grades A – Good, characteristic flavor and odor. 

 Grades C – Fairly good flavor that may lack a desirable flavor but is not 

objectionable.

 Substandard – Objectionable but edible.

Classify an inedible sample unit as worse-than-a-deviant. (See AIM Sampling Manual)
Inspection Instructions for Frozen Lima Beans (September 2016)

15

APPENDIX I – INSPECTION AID 7

FROZEN LIMA BEANS – GUIDE FOR COLOR SCORES

THIN SEEDED TYPE (WITH SKINS REMOVED)-THICK SEEDED BABY POTATO TYPE (WITH SKINS ON)

PERCENT WHITE BY COUNT

GRADE

GREEN % 

BY 

COUNT

0 1 2 3 4-9 10-15 16-25 26-35 36-50 51-65 66-80 81-

100

A 3

100 60

99 60 58

98 59 57 56

97 58 56 55 54

96 57 56 53 53 52

95 56 55 53 53 52

94 55 55 53 53 52

93 55 54 53 53 52

B 4

91-92 53 53 53 53 52

89-90 53 53 53 53 52 52

85-88 52 52 52 52 51 51

80-84 51 51 51 51 50 50 49

65-79 50 50 50 50 49 49 48 48

C 4

50-64 47 47 47 47 47 46 46 46 46

35-49 46 46 45 45 45 44 44 44 44 44

20-34 45 45 45 45 44 44 44 43 43 43 43

0-19 44 44 44 44 43 43 43 43 42 42 42 42

THICK SEEDED TYPE (WITH SKINS ON)

PERCENT WHITE BY COUNT

GRADE

GREEN % 

BY 

COUNT

0 1 2 3 4-5 6-10 11-20 21-35 36-50 51-65 66-80 81-

100

A 3

99-100 60 58

97-98 59 56 53

95-96 58 56 53 52 50

93-94 57 55 53 52 50 47

90-92 56 54 52 52 50 47

85-89 55 54 52 52 50 47 45

B 4

80-84 53 53 52 51 49 47 45

75-79 53 52 51 50 49 47 45 41

70-74 52 51 51 50 49 47 44 41

65-69 51 50 50 49 48 46 44 41

60-64 50 49 49 48 48 46 44 41 40

C 4

55-59 47 47 47 47 46 45 43 41 40

50-54 47 47 47 46 46 44 43 41 40

35-49 46 46 46 45 45 44 42 40 40 38

20-34 45 45 45 44 44 43 42 40 39 37 36

0-19 44 44 43 43 43 42 42 39 38 36 34 32

 

3 GRADE A – Color must be bright and typical

4 GRADE B and C – Color must be typical

 SUBSTANDARD – Score 0 to 41 points if the sample as a whole is definitely off-color, (whether or not due to discolored beans 

 scored as major defects) or thick-seeded type containing more than 20 percent white beans.