AMSC N/A FSC 8915 

METRIC 

A-A-20355 

February 1, 2008

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

NATURAL CITRUS FLAVORING, CRYSTALLIZED 

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

 the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers crystallized natural citrus flavoring (citrus flavoring), 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: 

 - Flavor(s) and package(s) of citrus flavoring 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 citrus flavoring shall conform to the following list which shall be 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

Flavors and packages. 

Flavor I - Lemon 

Flavor II - Lime 

Flavor III - Orange 

Package A - 0.8 g (0.03 oz) packet 

Package B - 80.8 g (2.85 oz) container 

Package C - 303.4 g (10.7 oz) container 
A-A-20355 

 2

Package D - 2.3 kg (5.0 lb) container 

Package E - 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 citrus flavoring shall be prepared in accordance with good manufacturing 

practices (21 CFR Part 110). 

5.2 Ingredients. The citrus flavoring shall contain citric acid, citrus juice (lemon, lime, or 

orange) and citrus oil (lemon, lime, or orange), as per the applicable flavor. The citrus flavoring 

may contain maltodextrin, ascorbic acid, and lactose. All ingredients, including food grade 

bulking and anticaking agents, used in the preparation of the citrus flavoring shall be of Food 

Chemicals Codex purity. 

5.3 Powdered product. 

5.3.1 Appearance. The citrus flavoring shall be a fine granular powder with a white to slight 

yellow color. The powder shall be a free flowing homogenous mixture. 

5.3.2 Flavor and odor. The citrus flavoring shall have a tart, low to moderate natural lemon, 

lime, or orange flavor and odor, based on the flavor specified. The packaged citrus flavoring 

shall be free from foreign flavors and odors.

5.3.3 Texture. The citrus flavoring shall be free flowing and free from hard lumps. 

5.4 Foreign material. The citrus flavoring shall be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from 

evidence of rodent or insect infestation. The product shall be free from foreign material such as, 

but not limited to dirt, insect parts, hair, wood, glass, or metal.
A-A-20355 

3

5.5 Hydrated product.

5.5.1 Appearance. The powder, when hydrated according to the manufacturer’s directions for 

use, shall dissolve within 15 seconds and shall show no evidence of undissolved floating 

particles or discoloration. 

5.5.2 Odor and flavor. The hydrated product shall have a mild to moderate natural lemon, 

lime, or orange odor and flavor, based on the flavor specified. The hydrated product shall be free 

from foreign odors or flavors. 

5.5.3 Texture. The prepared beverage shall have no discernable lumps.

6. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS. 

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

purchase order, the moisture content of the citrus flavoring shall not exceed 3.0 percent. 

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

the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing shall be performed on a composite 

sample. The composite sample shall be 113.4 g (4 oz) prepared from five randomly selected 

subsamples. Subsamples shall be a minimum of one packet/container and shall contain the 

appropriate number of packets/containers to yield a 113.4 g (4 oz) sample when composited. 

6.3 Analytical testing. Analytical testing shall be made in accordance with the following 

method described in the Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC International: 

Test Method

 Moisture 925.45A 

6.4 Test results. The test result for moisture shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent. 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 citrus flavoring provided shall meet the salient characteristics of

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

the same citrus flavoring offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the 

right to require proof of conformance. 

8. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered citrus flavoring shall comply with all

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

preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of citrus flavoring within the 
A-A-20355 

 4

commercial marketplace. Delivered citrus flavoring shall comply with all applicable provisions 

of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling 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 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 and 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 citrus flavoring 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 citrus flavoring in accordance with 

PPB procedures, which include selecting random samples of the citrus flavoring, evaluating the 

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

requirements, and documenting the findings on official PPB score sheets and/or certificates. In 
A-A-20355 

5

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

examine the citrus flavoring for conformance to the United States Standards of 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 the samples of packaged citrus flavoring, and compliance with requirements in 

the following areas: 

 - Salient Characteristics (Sec. 5). 

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

(Sec. 6.1). When USDA analytical testing is specified, PPB inspection personnel shall 

select samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology Programs (S&TP) 

laboratory for analysis. 

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

order). 

12. REFERENCE NOTES. 

12.1 USDA certification contacts. 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: Terry.Bane@usda.gov. 

12.2. Agricultural Marketing Service. For USDA, AMS technical information on analytical

testing, contact the Branch Chief, Technical Service Branch, S&TP, AMS, USDA, STOP 

0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0272, telephone (202) 690-

0621.

12.3 Sources of documents.

12.3.1 Sources of information for nongovernmental documents are as follows: 

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

AOAC International, 481 North Fredrick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 

telephone (301) 924-7077. Internet address: www.aoac.org.
A-A-20355 

 6

Copies of the Food Chemicals Codex may be purchased from: United States Pharmacopeial 

Convention, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852-1790, telephone (800) 227-

8772 or (301) 881-0666, Fax (301) 816-8148. Internet address: www.usp.org. 

12.3.2 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, 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: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.

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

available from: Branch Chief, PPB, FVP, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence 

Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-0247, telephone (202) 720- 9939, Fax 

(202) 690-0102, via E-mail: FQAStaff@usda.gov or on the Internet at: 

www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvqual.htm. 

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/. 

MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Custodians DOJ - BOP 

 HHS - NIH, HIS, FDA 

Army - GL USDA - FV 

Navy - SA VA - OSS 

Air Force - 35 

 PREPARING ACTIVITY: 

Review Activities

 DLA - SS 

Army - MD, QM 

Navy - MC (Project No. 8915-2008-001) 
A-A-20355 

7

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.