United States Standards

for Grades of

Field Grown Leaf Lettuce

Effective August 25, 2006

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Programs

Fresh

Products

Branch
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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.

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United States Standards for Grades of Field Grown Leaf Lettuce1

Effective August 25, 2006

Grades

51.3760 U.S. Fancy.

51.3761 U.S. No. 1.

51.3762 U.S. No. 2.

Size

51.3763 Size.

Tolerances

51.3764 Tolerances.

Application of Tolerances

51.3765

Definitions

51.3766 Similar varietal characteristics. 

51.3767 Well developed. 

51.3768 Well trimmed. 

51.3769 Fairly well trimmed.

51.3770 Reasonably well trimmed.

51.3771 Injury. 

51.3772 Damage. 

51.3773 Serious damage. 

Grades

§51.3760 U.S. Fancy. 

“U.S. Fancy” consists of plants of field grown leaf lettuce of similar varietal characteristics

which are well developed, well trimmed, free from decay, freezing, insects, worms or excreta,

and free from injury by broken midribs, bruising, dirt or foreign material, discoloration, Downy

Mildew, seedstems, Tipburn, watersoaked, yellowing, insect, mechanical or other means. 

§51.3761 U.S. No. 1. 

“U.S. No. 1” consists of plants of field grown leaf lettuce of similar varietal characteristics which

are well developed, fairly well trimmed, free from decay, freezing and free from damage by

broken midribs, bruising, dirt or foreign material, discoloration, Downy Mildew, seedstems,

Tipburn, watersoaked, yellowing, insects, worms, mechanical or other means.

§51.3762 U.S. No. 2.

“U.S. No. 2” consists of plants of field grown leaf lettuce of similar varietal characteristics which

are fairly well developed, reasonably well trimmed, free from decay, freezing and free from by

serious damage by broken midribs, bruising, dirt or foreign material, discoloration, Downy

Mildew, seedstems, Tipburn, watersoaked, yellowing, insects, worms, mechanical or other

means.
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Size

§51.3763 Size.

Size may be specified by count or weight. Weight is determined by average weight of the plants,

and no plant shall vary more than 50 percent larger or smaller in weight than the average.

Tolerances

§51.3764 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances

by count, shall be permitted in any lot:

(a) U.S. Fancy and U.S. No. 1 – (1) For defects. 12 percent for plants that fail to meet the

requirements of the grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 6 percent for

plants affected by damage (U.S. Fancy) and serious damage (U.S. No. 1), including not more than

3 percent for plants affected by decay. 

(b) U.S. No. 2 – (1) For defects. 12 percent for plants that fail to meet the requirements of the

grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 3 percent for plants affected by

decay. 

(2) For off-size. 10 percent for plants that fail to meet the size requirements.

Application of Tolerances

§51.3765 Application of Tolerances.

The contents of individual packages in the lot based on sample inspection, are subject to the

following limitations: Provided, That the averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances

specified for the grade: 

(a) For packages which contain more than 15 plants, and a tolerance of 12 percent is provided,

individual packages in any lot shall have not more than one and one-half times the tolerance

specified. For packages which contain more than 15 plants, and a tolerance of less than 12

percent is provided, individual packages in any lot shall have not more than double the tolerance

specified, except that at least 1 defective plant may be permitted in any package.

(b) For packages which contain 15 plants or less, individual packages in any lot shall have not

more than double the tolerance specified, except that at least 1 defective plant may be permitted

in any package. 

Definitions

§51.3766 Similar varietal characteristics. 

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the plants in the lot are of the same general type,

texture and color. 

§51.3767 Well developed. 

“Well developed” means that the plant shows normal growth and shape, and is not stunted or

overgrown. 

§51.3768 Well trimmed. 

“Well trimmed” means that the butt is trimmed off to within one-half inch of the point of

attachment of the first whorl of leaves.

§51.3769 Fairly well trimmed. 

“Fairly well trimmed” means that the butt is trimmed off to within three-fourths inch of the point

of attachment of the first whorl of leaves.
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§51.3770 Reasonably well trimmed.

“Reasonably well trimmed” means that the butt is trimmed off to within one inch of the point of

attachment of the first whorl of leaves.

§51.3371 Injury. 

“Injury” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally objectionable variation

of this defect, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which slightly detracts from the

appearance, or the edible or marketing quality. The following specific defects shall be considered

as injury: 

(a) Broken midribs when affecting 1 or more leaves.

(b) Bruising when 2 or more leaves are slightly affected or slightly discolored by bruising.

(c) Dirt or foreign material when slightly affects 1 or more leaves.

(d) Discoloration when brown to black exceeds an aggregate area of 1/2 inch by 1 inch.

(e) Downy Mildew when exceeds an aggregate area of 1/2 inch by 1 inch.

(f) Insects or worms when any live or dead insects or worms or when excreta is present, or when

2 or more holes are present.

(g) Mechanical when cut or torn more than an aggregate of 1-1/2 inches.

(h) Russet Spotting when present in any amount.

(i) Seedstems when more than 1 inch in length, measured from the point of attachment to the tip

of the seedstem.

(j) Tipburn when light buff or darker color exceeds an aggregate area of 1/2 inch by 1 inch.

(k) Watersoaked when exceeds an aggregate area of 1 inch by 1-1/2 inches.

(l) Yellowing when exceeds an aggregate area of 1 inch by 1-1/2 inches.

§51.3772 Damage. 

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

variation of this defect, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts

from the appearance, or the edible or marketing. The following specific defects shall be

considered as damage: 

(a) Broken midribs when affecting 3 or more leaves.

(b) Bruising when 2 or more leaves are materially affected or materially discolored by bruising.

(c) Dirt or foreign material when materially affects 2 or more leaves.

(d) Discoloration when brown to black exceeds an aggregate area of 1 square inch.

(e) Downy Mildew when exceeds an aggregate area of 1 square inch.

(f) Insects when 4 or more live or dead or 1 live or dead worm is present, or excreta exceeds an

area 1/4 by 1 inch or 4 or more holes are present.

(g) Mechanical when cut or torn more than an aggregate of 3 inches.

(h) Russet Spotting when exceeds 3 spots on one leaf, or any amount on 2 or more leaves.

(i) Seedstems when more than 2 inches in length, measured from the point of attachment to the tip

of the seedstem.

(j) Tipburn when light buff and exceeds an aggregate area of 1 square inch.

(k) Watersoaked exceeds an aggregate area of 3 square inches.

(l) Yellowing exceeds an aggregate area of 3 square inches.
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§51.3773 Serious damage. 

“Serious damage” means any defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously detracts from

the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality.

(a) Broken midribs when affecting 5 or more leaves.

(b) Bruising when 2 or more leaves are seriously affected or seriously discolored by bruising.

(c) Dirt or foreign material when seriously affects 4 or more leaves.

(d) Discoloration when brown to black exceeds an aggregate area of 2 square inches.

(e) Downy mildew when exceeds an aggregate area of 2 square inches.

(f) Insects when 8 or more live or dead or 2 or more worms are present, or area of excreta exceeds

an aggregate area of 1/2 inch by 1 inch or 8 or more holes are present.

(g) Mechanical when cut or torn more than an aggregate of 6 inches.

(h) Russet Spotting when affecting 4 or more leaves.

(i) Seedstems when more than 3 inches in length, measured from the point of attachment to the tip

of the seedstem.

(j) Tipburn when light buff and exceeds an aggregate area of 2 square inches.

(k) Watersoaked when exceeds an aggregate area of 6 square inches.

(l) Yellowing when exceeds an aggregate area of 6 square inches.