USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

MC10

MACARONI AND CHEESE

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: 01/13/2016
MC9

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

MC10

MACARONI AND CHEESE

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES 1

Section 1.2 WARRANTY 1

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE 1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS 1

Section 2.1 GENERAL 1

Section 2.2 COMMERCIALPACKAGING 1

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS 2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION 2
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Part 1 COMMODITYSPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Pasta Specifications

(1) All wheat shall be tested for vomitoxin in accordance with procedures

approved by Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). Any wheat testing

higher than 2 parts per million (p.p.m.) shall not be used in production of

the commodity. The final product shall not contain more than 1 p.p.m. of

vomitoxin.

(2) The commodities delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in

the Macaroni and Cheese Mix, Dry, Sauce Color A, Commercial Item

Description (CID) A-A-20308A (April 10, 2009) available 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CID%20Macaroni%20and%

20Cheese%20Mix%2C%20Dry.pdft, except that only semolina flour shall 

be used.

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The product shall have a shelf life of at least one year from date of manufacturer.

Product shall not be manufactured more than 60 days prior to shipping.

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. The contractor shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to

ensure that the product meets the commodity specifications. The results

shall be evidenced by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) maintained by the

contractor.

B. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet

contract requirements.

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials requirements

used under this contract.

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall certify at the time

of submission of an offer that the commercial product being delivered has a history of

successful distribution and use in domestic commercial channels and is sold on the

commercial market with an established level of consumer acceptance.

B. Container and packaging requirements are those used in the current commercial

shipping practices and shall comply with:
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(1) Unitization requirements in Section 2.4.

(2) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” may be

printed on the principal display panel of the food label.

(3) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number shall be shown on the

commercial bill of lading.

(4) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe stacking

height. It is the responsibility of the contractor in cooperation with the shipping

container manufacturers to determine the safe stacking height.

(5) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses, all commercial-labeled 

product shipping documents shall specify “FOR USDA FOOD DISTRIBUTION

PROGRAMS.”

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS

A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the

requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe

contact with the packaged product. The contractor shall obtain and

maintain documentation from the container or packaging material

manufacturer to verify that the containers and packaging materials

used in this contract were in compliance with the Government’s

regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as

required in the Master Solicitation, Part 3, Section A, Number 3.

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to:

Questions concerning the containers and materials should be 

directed to:

Senior Contracting Officer

Ray Boyd Phone (816) 926 2612 or Roy.Boyd@ams.usda.gov

C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from

a foreign country and/or the package and container is manufactured

in a foreign country, the package and container SHALL NOT display

country of origin labeling. Phrases similar to but not inclusive of,

“Made in [Name of Foreign Country.]” or “Product of [Name of

Foreign Country.]” are strictly prohibited.

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements:

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of packaged products

shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped).
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B. Pallets shall be:

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the packaged

product, as a unit, without loss or damage.

(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken runners or

slats.

(3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products.

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be:

(1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a minimum of 50 percent

beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet load.

(2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized shipping

containers. The shipping containers shall be held firmly in place by the stretch

wrap.

D. Pallet loads shall be:

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping containers

overhang the edges of pallets.

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a manner that

prevents shifting during transit.