UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Fruit and Vegetable Division 

Processed Products Branch 

A-490

May 1995

SUBJECT: Interpretative Guide for the Determination of Detached Fragments in 

Frozen Broccoli 

TO: All Inspectors 

FILE UNDER: Grading Manual for Frozen Broccoli 

This memorandum is an interpretation of the grading instructions for frozen broccoli. It will 

provide answers to questions that have been raised about detached fragments in frozen broccoli. 

I. Detached Fragments and Broken Spears.

"Detached fragments" should not be used to reassemble "broken" spears or short spears. 

Only "Broken" portions are used to reassemble spears. 

Page 9,(c),(l), of the U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Broccoli states; "Broken, 

crushed, or similarly damaged portions of units of product in the styles of spears and 

short spears are to be reassembled and included in the count as whole". On page 3, step 

2 of the grading manual for frozen broccoli, iC states, "Reassemble any broken spear. 

Count each reassembled spear as a single unit." On page 25, step 2 of the grading 

manual for frozen broccoli, it states, "Reassemble any broken short spear. Count each 

reassembled short spear as a single unit." See the following definitions in the U.S. 

standards for reference of "broken" ·and "detached fragments". 

The definition for "broken" [page 6,(b),(l) in the U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen 

Broccoli) states; "Detached portions, other than loose leaves or portions thereof, 

which weigh more than 6 g (0.2 oz) and are definitely not intact units." 

The definition for "detached fragments" [page 7,(b),(4) in the U.S. Standards for Grades 

of Frozen Broccolil states; "Any small piece or detached portion other than loose 

leaves or portions thereof, which weighs 6 g (0.2 oz) or less." 
Page 2 

II. Detached Fragments and Style Determination. 

"Detached fragments" should not be scored in the determination of sty le. "Detached 

fragments" are not used to reassemble "broken" spears and short spears and should be 

ignored when determining style. Step 3.a., on page 25 in the grading manual, is telling 

the grader to ignore "detached fragments" and other "quality" defects (or defectives). 

Step 3.d., on page 25 in the grading manual, sets procedures for short spears that do not 

meet the style weight criteria (6 grams or less), but will meet the style length criteria 

(shorter than 2 cm). This procedure is intended for "intact" short spears and not 

reassembled units. Count intact units, that are 6 grams or less in weight and 2 cm and 

greater in length, as a minor style defect. Broccoli portions, less than 6 grams in 

weight and less than 2 cm in length, are considered "detached fragments" and are 

disregarded. 

III. Lot Inspection for Short Spears or Florets. 

The instructions in step 3.d., on page 25 of the grading·manual should be included under 

"Lot Inspection" for short spears, as part of step 16 on page 93, of the grading manual. 

IV. Detached Fragments and Determination of Blemished Units and Other Quality 

Defects. 

"Detached fragments" should not be scored as blemished or color defectives, etc., because 

they are themselves "defects (or defectives)"; except when the detached fragment has a 

more severe defect (see note). For spears and short spears style, "detached fragments" 

are not used to reassemble "broken" spears or short spears and are not considered units. 

Blemish, color and other defect determinations are made on individual spear and short 

spear units. 

Page 9,(c),(2), of the U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Broccoli states; "Head and leaf 

material in the styles of cut and chopped, loose leaves or pieces in the styles of spears 

and short spears, and extraneous vegetable material in all product styles are part of the 

standard sample unit size. They are not included in the count of spears and short 

spears but are included in the weight of cut, pieces, and chopped broccoli." 

On page 25, step 2 of the grading manual for frozen b,roccoli, it states, "Reassemble any 

broken short spear. Count each reassembled short spear as a single unit." The 

statement in bold defines a unit of short spear and; 
Page 3 

On page 36, step 12 of the grading manual for frozen broccoli, it states, "Count the 

number of short spears that are blemished." The statement in bold indicates what 

should be counted as a unit, in the determination of blemishes. 

NOTE: If the "detached fragment" has a defect (example: number of serious 

blemishes that affect the appearance or eating quality of the sample) 

that is too severe to ignore, count the "detached fragment" as the 

more severe defect only. Remember a defect or defective unit is only 

counted once. 

d,=::!:,~ Branch Chief 

Distribution:A 

Agriculture: Washington