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United States Standards

For Grades of Creole 

Onions

Effective November 24, 2014
This is the third issue, as amended, of the United States Standards for Grades of 

Creole Onions published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on October 23, 2014 (79 FR

63378) to become effective November 24, 2014. This issue supersedes the second

issue, which has been in effect since April 10, 1943.

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

Fruit and Vegetable 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: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and 

applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where 

applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived 

from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded 

by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To File an Employment 

Complaint: If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) within 45 days of the 

date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel action. Additional information can be found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html. To File a Program Complaint: If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint 

of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also 

write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax 

(202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Persons with Disabilities: Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have 

speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 

(800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information 

above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., 

braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions

Section Page No.

Grades............................................................................................................................ 2

§51.3955 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

§51.3956 U.S. No. 2.................................................................................................... 2

§51.3957 U.S. Combination. ....................................................................................... 2

§51.3958 [Reserved]. .................................................................................................. 2

Tolerances ..................................................................................................................... 2

§51.3959 Tolerances................................................................................................... 2

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 3

§51.3960 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 3

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 3

§51.3961 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 3

§51.3962 Mature. ........................................................................................................ 3

§51.3963 Fairly well shaped........................................................................................ 3

§51.3964 Soft rot......................................................................................................... 4

§51.3965 Doubles. ...................................................................................................... 4

§51.3966 Bottlenecks.................................................................................................. 4

§51.3967 Badly misshapen. ........................................................................................ 4

§51.3968 Damage....................................................................................................... 4

§51.3969 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 5

§51.3970 Diameter...................................................................................................... 5

United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions (November 24, 2014)

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Grades

§51.3955 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of Creole onions of similar varietal characteristics, except color 

when designated as a specialty or mixed pack, which are mature, fairly well shaped, 

free from soft rot, doubles, bottlenecks, and from damage caused by splits, seedstems, 

tops, roots, moisture, sunburn, sunscald, cuts, staining, dirt or other foreign matter, 

diseases, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, the 

minimum size shall be 1-3/4 inches in diameter. (See §51.3959.)

§51.3956 U.S. No. 2.

“U.S. No. 2” consists of Creole onions of similar varietal characteristics, except color 

when designated as a specialty or mixed pack, which are not badly misshapen and are 

free from soft rot, doubles, bottlenecks, and from damage caused by splits, moisture, 

sunscald, and from serious damage caused by seedstems, tops, roots, cuts, staining, 

dirt or other foreign matter, diseases, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless 

otherwise specified, the minimum size shall be 1-1/2 inches in diameter. (See 

§51.3959.)

§51.3957 U.S. Combination.

“U.S. Combination.” Any lot of Creole onions may be designated “U.S. Combination”

when not less than 50 percent, by weight, of the onions in each container meet the 

requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade and the remainder U.S. No. 2 grade. (See §51.3959.) 

§51.3958 [Reserved].

Tolerances

§51.3959 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the 

foregoing grades, the following tolerances, by weight, are provided as specified:

(a) For defects.

(1) U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 grades. Ten percent for onions in any lot which 

fail to meet the requirements of the specified grade, including therein not 

more than 2 percent for onions which are watersoaked or affected by soft 

rot.

(2) U.S. Combination grade. Ten percent for onions in any lot which fail to 

meet the requirements of U.S. No. 2 grade, including therein not more 

than 2 percent for onions which are watersoaked or affected by soft rot. 

No part of any tolerance shall be allowed to reduce for the lot as a whole 

the percentage of U.S. No. 1 onions required in the combination, but 

United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions (November 24, 2014)

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individual containers may have not more than a total of 15 percentage 

points less than the percentage of U.S. No. 1 onions required: Provided, 

That the entire lot averages within the percentage required.

(b) For off-size. Five percent for onions in any lot which are below the specified 

minimum size and 15 percent for onions which are larger than any specified 

maximum size.

Application of Tolerances

§51.3960 Application of tolerances.

The contents of individual packages in the lot are subject to the following limitations:

(a) For a tolerance of 10 percent or more, not more than one-tenth of the packages 

in any lot may contain more than one and one-half times the tolerance specified: 

Provided, That soft rot in any package shall not exceed three times the tolerance: 

And provided further, That the average for the entire lot is within the tolerance 

specified for the grade.

(b) For a tolerance of less than 10 percent, not more than one-tenth of the packages 

in any lot may contain more than double the tolerance specified: Provided, That 

soft rot in any package shall not exceed three times the tolerance and that at 

least one defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package: 

And provided further, That the average for the entire lot is within the tolerance 

specified for the grade.

Definitions

§51.3961 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the onions have the general distinguishing 

features of the Creole type, i.e., flat to somewhat globular shape. Variations in color 

from yellow to brownish red shall be permitted but white Creole onions shall not be 

mixed in the same container with onions of other colors.

§51.3962 Mature.

“Mature” means having reached a stage of development at which the onions are firm, 

not becoming soft or spongy. 

§51.3963 Fairly well shaped.

“Fairly well shaped” means having the characteristic shape, not thicknecked, lopsided or 

otherwise materially deformed, but not necessarily of either flat or globe type.

United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions (November 24, 2014)

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§51.3964 Soft rot.

“Soft rot” means any soft or mushy condition of the tissue such as bacterial soft rot, or 

wet breakdown following sunscald.

§51.3965 Doubles.

“Doubles” means onions which have developed more than one distinct bulb joined only 

at the base.

§51.3966 Bottlenecks.

“Bottlenecks” means onions which have thick necks, usually with poorly developed 

bulbs.

§51.3967 Badly misshapen.

“Badly misshapen” means that the onion is so decidedly deformed that its appearance 

is seriously affected.

§51.3968 Damage.

“Damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally 

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination 

of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing 

quality of the onion. The following specific defects shall be considered as damage:

(a) Splits. A split is an onion which has more than one distinct bulb at least partially 

covered by an outer scale. Such an onion, if not well cured, shall be considered 

damaged when not completely covered by more than one outer scale. If well 

cured, such an onion shall not be regarded as damaged if practically covered by 

an outer scale, unless the distinct bulbs are readily apparent upon casual 

examination of the onion.

(b) Seedstems when any seedstem is tough or woody, or is more than one-fourth 

inch in diameter.

(c) Sunburn. Sunburn means discoloration due to exposure to the sun where there 

is no injury to the tissue. Individual onions showing bad sunburn shall be 

considered as damaged but onions showing slight sunburn shall not be regarded 

as damaged unless present in a sufficient amount to cause the lot to have a 

distinctly greenish cast. Onions should not be peeled to detect sunburn.

(d) Sunscald. An onion, when not dry and well cured, shall be considered as 

damaged if it is affected by any sunscald. If dry and well cured, an onion 

affected by sunscald shall be regarded as damaged except when the affected 

United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions (November 24, 2014)

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area is dry and so inconspicuous that the appearance of the onion is not 

materially injured.

(e) Staining. Any lot of onions which is materially stained shall be considered as 

damaged. In this connection the number of stained onions permitted, before the 

lot is considered damaged, will depend upon the degree of staining on individual 

onions. As a guide, a lot should be considered damaged if the appearance is 

affected to a greater extent than the presence of 15 percent appreciably stained 

plus 5 percent badly stained onions. If the lot has 15 percent which are 

appreciably stained, and 5 percent which are badly stained and most of the 

remainder of the lot shows staining of a lesser degree, but approaches that which 

is considered appreciably stained then the lot shall be considered as damaged 

by staining. If a lot contains slightly more than 20 percent of appreciably stained 

onions and most of the lot has none or very little staining, it should not be 

considered as damaged by staining.

§51.3969 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally 

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination 

of defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance or the edible or marketing 

quality of the onion.

The following specific defects shall be considered as serious damage:

(a) Dirt or staining when more than 10 percent of the onions in any lot are badly 

caked with dirt or are badly stained.

(b) Seedstems when any seedstem is tough or woody, or is more than one-half inch 

in diameter.

§51.3970 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest dimension at right angles to a straight line running from 

stem to root.

United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions (November 24, 2014)

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