A-A-20320

September 20, 2001

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

FRUIT SNACKS

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

authorized the use of this Commercial Item Description.

1. SCOPE. This Commercial Item Description (CID) covers fruit snacks packed in commercially 

acceptable containers, suitable for use by Federal, State, local governments, and other interested 

parties.

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following:

- Type(s), style(s), flavor(s), and shape(s) required (Sec. 3).

- When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 6.1).

- When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 6.2).

- 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 fruit snacks shall conform to the following list which shall be specified in 

the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

 

Types, styles, flavors, shapes.

Type I – Fruit snacks made with 100 percent fruit, no sugar added, no artificial colors and flavors or 

preservatives

 

 Style A - Flat wide stick

 Flavor 1 - Cherry

 Flavor 2 - Strawberry

 Flavor 3 - Raspberry

 Flavor 4 - Apricot

 FSC 8915 

METRIC
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 Flavor 5 - Grape

 Flavor 6 - Tropical 

 Flavor 7 - Blackberry

 Flavor 8 - Apple

 Flavor 9 - Mixed berry

 Flavor 10 - Other

Type II – Fruit snacks made with fruit and fruit juices, may contain added sugar, artificial colors and 

flavors, and preservatives

 Style B - Rolled “sheet”

 Flavor 1 - Strawberry

 Flavor 2 - Cherry

 Flavor 3 - Grape

 Flavor 4 - Assorted colors and flavors

 Flavor 5 - Other

 Style C - Rolled “tape”

 Flavor 1 - Strawberry

 Flavor 2 - Cherry

 Flavor 3 - Grape

 Flavor 4 - Assorted colors and flavors

 Flavor 5 - Other

 Style D - Fruit Snacks

Flavor 1 - Strawberry

Flavor 2 - Cherry

Flavor 3 - Grape

Flavor 4 - Orange

Flavor 5 - Mixed fruit

Flavor 6 - Apple

Flavor 7 - Fruit punch

Flavor 8 - Watermelon

Flavor 9 - Lemon

Flavor 10 - Raspberry

Flavor 11 - Assorted berries 

Flavor 12 - Other

Shape a - Theme oriented (ex: Dinosaurs, zoo animals, cartoon characters, etc.)

 Shape b - Fruit shaped

 
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Style E - String Shaped 

 Flavor 1 - Strawberry 

 Flavor 2 - Cherry

 Flavor 3 - Assorted berry (blue colored)

 Flavor 4 - Assorted colors and flavors

 Flavor 5 - Other

Style F - Filled with real fruit juice

 Flavor 1 - Strawberry 

 Flavor 2 - Watermelon

 Flavor 3 - Fruit punch

 Flavor 4 - Other

 Shape a - Theme oriented (ex: Dinosaurs, zoo animals, cartoon characters, etc.)

 Shape b - Other 

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

products shall meet the requirements of the:

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 5).

- Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (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. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

5.1 Processing. The fruit snacks shall be processed in accordance with good manufacturing practices 

(21 CFR Part 110).

5.2 Ingredients. 

5.2.1 Type I ingredients. Type I fruit snacks shall contain 100 percent fruit in the form of, such as 

but not limited to, fruit, concentrated fruit juice, lemon juice, fruit puree, concentrated fruit puree and 

natural flavor. The fruit snacks may contain added Vitamin C. The fruit snacks shall not contain added 

sugar, artificial colors, artificial flavors or preservatives. 

5.2.2 Type II ingredients. Type II fruit snacks shall contain fruit, and/or fruit from concentrate, 

concentrated fruit juice, dehydrated fruit, and/or fruit puree. The fruit snacks may contain, such as but 
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not limited to, corn syrup, sucrose, natural and artificial flavor, artificial color, partially hydrogenated 

vegetable oil, Vitamins C, E, and/or A, and preservatives. 

5.3 Finished product.

5.3.1 Flavor and odor. The fruit snacks shall be free of objectionable odors and flavors.

5.3.2 Color and texture. The fruit snacks color shall be bright and distinct. The texture shall be 

chewy. 

5.3.3 Foreign material. The fruit snacks shall be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from rodent or 

insect infestation. 

6. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS. 

6.1 Analytical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract or purchase 

order, the analytical requirements for all fruit snacks shall be as follows:

Test Requirement

Soluble solids 70-90o Brix

Water activity Type I only - less than 0.65

6.2 Product verification. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is specified in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the following procedures will be followed.

6.2.1 Sampling procedures. USDA inspection service will select the number of product containers 

based on USDA inspection service sampling procedures and plans.

6.2.2 Composite sample. Analytical testing shall be performed on a composite sample. The 

composite sample shall be 454 grams (1 pound) and prepared from subsamples drawn from 

randomly selected containers. The number of subsamples used to create the composite shall be based 

on USDA procedures.

6.3 Preparation of sample. The sample shall be prepared in accordance with the Official Methods of 

Analysis of the AOAC International.

6.4 Analytical testing. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the analyses 

shall be made in accordance with the following methods from the Official Methods of Analysis of the 

AOAC International:
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Test Method

Soluble solids 932.12

Water activity 978.18

6.5 Test results. The test results for soluble solids shall be reported to the nearest 1 degree brix. The 

test results for water activity shall be reported to the nearest 0.01. Any result not conforming to the 

analytical requirements shall be cause for rejection of the lot. 

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

distributor shall certify that the fruit snacks provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this 

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

prepared fruit snacks offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to 

require proof of conformance.

8. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered fruit snacks shall comply with all applicable 

Federal, State, and local mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, packaging, 

labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of fruit snacks within the commercial marketplace. Delivered 

fruit snacks shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 

and regulations promulgated thereunder.

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.

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 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.)
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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 fruit snacks 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 and 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 fruit snacks in accordance with PPB procedures which 

include selecting random samples of the packaged fruit snacks, 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 fruit snacks 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 fruit snacks, and compliance with requirements in the following areas:

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 5).

- Analytical requirements when specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order

 (Sec. 6.4). When USDA analytical testing is specified, PPB inspection personnel shall 

 select samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology Program

 (S&TP) laboratory for analysis.

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

 order).
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12. REFERENCE NOTES.

12.1 USDA certification contact. For USDA 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: james.rodeheaver@usda.gov.

12.2 Analytical testing and technical information. For USDA technical information on analytical 

testing, contact the Branch Chief, Technical Service Branch, Science &Technology Programs, 

AMS, USDA, STOP 0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0272, 

telephone (202) 690-0621, or via E-mail: anita.okrend@usda.gov.

12.3 Sources of documents.

12.3.1 Source of information for nongovernmental document is as follows:

Copies of the Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC International may be obtained from: AOAC 

International, 481 North Frederick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 

telephone (301) 924-7077 or on the Internet at: www.aoac.org.

12.3.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1 

to 199. This document may be purchased from: Superintendent of Documents, ATTN:

New Orders, P. O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Credit Card (MasterCard or

VISA) purchases may be made by calling the Superintendent of Documents on (202) 512-

1800 or on the Internet at: www.nara.gov/fedreg.

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

comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc. and any data which may improve 

this CID are available from and/or provided to: Head, Food Quality Assurance Staff, FVP, AMS, 

USDA, STOP 0243, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 

20250-0243, telephone (202) 720-9939, Fax (202) 690-0102, via E-mail: FQAStaff@usda.gov

or on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvqual.htm.

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

Order Desk, Defense Automation and Production Service, 700 Robbins Avenue, Building 4D, 

Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094.
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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Military Coordinating Activity: DOJ - BOP

HHS - NIH, IHS

DLA - SS USDA - FV

VA - OSS

Custodians

PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Army - GL

Navy - SA USDA - FV

Air Force - 35

Review Activities

Army - MD, QM

Navy - MC

DLA - SS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and 

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer.