United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Programs

Processed

Products

Branch

United States

Standards for Grades

of Frozen Field Peas

and Frozen BlackEye Peas

Effective December 13, 2001
This is the fifth issue, of the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Field Peas and Frozen

Black-Eye Peas published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of November 13, 2001 to become

effective December 13, 2001. This issue supersedes the fourth issue, which has been in effect since

October 15, 1996.

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 processed fruits and vegetables, 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 standards also serve as a basis for the inspection and grading of commodities by the Federal

inspection service, the only activity authorized to approve the designation of U.S. grades as

referenced in the standards, as provided under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. This service,

available as on-line (in-plant) or lot inspection and grading of all processed fruit and vegetable

products, is offered to interested parties, upon application, on a fee-for-service basis. The

verification of some specific recommendations, requirements, or tolerances contained in the

standards can be accomplished only by the use of on-line inspection procedures. In all instances,

a grade can be assigned based on final product factors or characteristics.

In addition to the U.S. grade standards, grading manuals or instructions for inspection of several

processed fruits and vegetables are available upon request for a nominal fee. These manuals or

instructions contain detailed interpretations of the grade standards and provide step-by-step

procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the Department after careful consideration of all data and views

submitted, and the Department welcomes suggestions which might aid in improving the standards

in future revisions. Comments may be submitted to, and copies of standards and grading manuals

obtained from:

Chief, Processed Products Branch

Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA

STOP 0247, 1400 INDEPENDENCE AVE. SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-0247

Ph: (202) 720-4693

Email: james.rodeheaver@usda.gov
UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GRADES OF

FROZEN FIELD PEAS AND FROZEN BLACK-EYE PEAS

EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 13, 2001

Section Page No.

§52.1661 Product description. ............................................... 2

§52.1662 Styles. .......................................................... 2

§52.1663 Types. .......................................................... 2

§52.1664 Definitions of terms. .............................................. 3

§52.1665 Sample unit size. ................................................. 5

§62.1666 Grades. ......................................................... 5

§52.1667 Factors of quality. ................................................ 6

§52.1668 Classification of defects. ........................................... 7

§52.1669 Sample size. ..................................................... 9

§52.1670 Acceptance criteria. ............................................... 9

Authority: Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, Secs. 203, 205, 60 Stat. 1087, as amended,

1090, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624).

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.
2

§52.1661 Product description.

 

Frozen field peas and frozen Black-eye peas called frozen peas in these standards, means the

frozen product prepared from clean, sound, fresh, seed of proper maturity of the field pea plant

(Vigna sinensis), by shelling, sorting, washing, blanching, and properly draining. The product is

frozen and maintained at temperatures necessary for preservation. Frozen peas may contain

succulent, unshelled pods (snaps) of the field pea plant or small sieve round type succulent pods

of the green bean plant as an optional ingredient used as a garnish.

§52.1662. Styles.

 

(a) Frozen peas.

 

(b) Frozen peas with snaps.

§52.1663. Types.

(a) Single type. Frozen peas that have distinct similarities of color and shape for the

type are not considered "mixed." Single types include, but are not limited to, the

following:

(1) Black-eye peas or other similar varietal types, such as Purple-hull peas,

that have a light colored skin, a definite eye (contrasting color around the

hilum), and are bean shaped;

(2) Crowder peas of various groups, such as Brown Crowder, that are

nearly round in shape and have blunt or square ends;

(3) Cream peas of various groups, including White Acre, that have a solid

cream-colored skin and are generally bean shaped; and

(4) Field peas means any varietal group or type of the field pea plant that has

similar color and shape characteristics and includes Black-eye peas,

Crowder peas, and Cream peas.

(b) Mixed type. Frozen peas that are a mixture of two or more distinct single varietal

groups or are not distinguishable as a single varietal group shall be considered

"mixed" type.
3

§52.1664. Definitions of terms.

(a) Acceptable quality level (AQL). The maximum percent of defective units or the

maximum number of defects per hundred units of product that, for the purpose of

acceptance sampling, can be considered satisfactory as a process average.

(b) Appearance. The overall appearance of a sample unit refers to its brightness and

uniform. The color of snaps in the “frozen peas with snaps” style is considered

under the overall appearance.

(1) Good appearance. The sample unit has a bright and uniform overall

appearance.

(2) Reasonably good appearance. The sample unit has an overall

appearance that may be dull.

(c) Blemished. Blemished means discolored, spotted, or damaged by any means to

the extent that the appearance or eating quality is materially affected.

(d) Broken. Broken means the skin or portions of the skin, the cotyledon or portions

of the cotyledon, have become separated from the unit. "Broken" is not

applicable to "snaps" in the style of "frozen peas with snaps".

(e) Character. Character refers to the tenderness of the frozen peas, including snaps.

(1) Good character. The units are tender and are practically uniform in

texture and tenderness.

(2) Reasonably good character. The units are reasonably tender and may be

variable in texture and tenderness; and the cotyledons may be mealy or

firm but not hard.

(f) Color defective. A unit that varies markedly from the color that is normally

expected for the variety and grade.

(g) Defect. Any nonconformance with a specified requirement.

(h) Dissimilar varieties. In single types only, peas that are markedly different

varietal colors and/or shapes. Dissimilar varieties is not applicable to snaps in

the style of frozen peas with snaps.
4

(i) Harmless extraneous vegetable material.

(1) In the style of frozen peas:

(i) Class 1. Hulls or pieces of unshelled pods, leaves, small tender

stems, or other similar vegetable material; and 

(ii) Class 2. Coarse, fibrous units of vegetable material which are

harmless.

(2) In the style of frozen peas with snaps:

(i) Class 1. Leaves, small tender stems, or other similar vegetable

material, except "snaps"; and 

(ii) Class 2. Coarse, fibrous units of vegetable material which are

harmless.

(j) Flavor and odor.

(1) Good flavor and odor. The product, after cooking, has a good,

characteristic normal flavor and odor and is free from objectionable

flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

(2) Reasonably good flavor and odor. The product, after cooking, may be

lacking in good flavor but is free from objectionable flavors and

objectionable odors of any kind.

(k) Grit. Sand, silt, or other earthy materials.

(l) Sample. The number of sample units to be used for inspection of a lot.

(m) Sample unit. The amount of product specified to be used for inspection. It may

be:

(1) The entire contents of a container; or

(2) A portion of the contents of a container; or

(3) A combination of the contents of two or more containers; or

(4) A portion of unpacked product.

(n) Shriveled. A unit that is seriously wrinkled in appearance, including "snaps".
5

(o) Snap. A succulent, unshelled pod of the field pea or Black-eye pea plant or small

sieve round type succulent pods of the green bean plant that should be able to

pass through the openings of a No. 3 sieve.

(p) Unit. Any individual frozen pea; or any individual succulent, unshelled pod.

§52.1665. Sample unit size.

Compliance with requirements for all factors of quality is based on the following sample unit

sizes:

(a) White Acre - 5 ounces (141.75 grams).

(b) All other types - 10 ounces (283.5 grams).

§52.1666. Grades.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of frozen peas that:

(1) Meets the following prerequisites:

(i) Has a good appearance;

(ii) Has a good flavor and odor;

(iii) Is practically free from grit;

(iv) Has a good character;

(v) Weight of broken peas does not exceed 0.25 ounce (7.1 grams) for

"White Acre" peas and does not exceed 0.5 ounce (14.2 grams) for

all other types; and

(2) Is within the limits for defects as classified in Table I and specified in

Tables II and III.

(b) U.S. Grade B is the quality of frozen peas that:

(1) Meets the following prerequisites:

(i) Has a reasonably good appearance;

(ii) Has a reasonably good flavor and odor;
6

(iii) Is practically free from grit;

(iv) Has a reasonably good character;

(v) Weight of broken peas does not exceed 0.5 ounce (14.2 grams) for

"White Acre" peas and 1 ounce (28.35 grams) for all other types;

and

(2) Is within the limits for defects as classified in Table I and specified in

Tables II and III.

(c) Substandard is the quality of frozen peas that fail to meet the requirements for

U.S. Grade B.

§52.1667. Factors of quality.

(a) The grade of a sample of frozen peas is based on compliance with the

prerequisites specified in §52.1666 and with limits for the following quality

factors.

(1) Dissimilar varieties and shriveled units;

(2) Harmless extraneous vegetable material;

(3) Blemished units; and

(4) Color defectives.
7

§52.1668. Classification of defects.

TABLE I

AQL's AND TOLERANCES (TOL.) FOR DEFECTS IN FROZEN PEAS (EXCEPT “WHITE

ACRE) BASED ON 700 UNITS OF PRODUCT FOR 13 SAMPLE UNITS, 700x13 = 9100 UNITS

Sample Units x Sample unit Size 1x700 3x700 6x700 13x700 21x700 29x700

Units of Product 700 2100 4200 9100 14700 20300

Defects AQL TOL

GRADE A ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS

Blemished 4.3 4.6 39 106 202 424 674 922

EVM (Minor) 0.575 0.7 7 18 32 64 99 134

EVM (Major) 0.218 0.3 3 8 14 27 41 55

Dissimilar Varieties &

Shriveled units 3.7 4.0 34 92 176 367 582 796

Color Defective 1/ 9.9 10.4 83 231 450 950 1,518 2,083

Color Defective

2/

16.4 17.0 131 372 728 1,550 2,484 3,416

GRADE B ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS

Blemished 6.6 7.0 57 158 304 641 1,022 1,400

EVM (Minor) 1.12 1.3 12 31 58 118 186 252

EVM (Major) 0.486 0.6 6 15 28 55 85 115

Dissimilar Varieties &

Shriveled units 5.0 5.4 45 122 234 490 780 1.068

1/ - For Black-eye Peas, Cream Peas, Field Peas and Mixed Types only.

2/ - For Crowder Peas Only
8

TABLE II

AQL's AND TOLERANCES (TOL.) FOR DEFECTS IN “WHITE ACRE” FROZEN PEAS

BASED ON 1400 UNITS OF PRODUCT FOR 13 SAMPLE UNITS, 1400x13 = 18200 UNITS

Sample Units x Sample unit Size 1x1400 3x1400 6x1400 13x1400 21x1400 29x1400

Units of Product 1400 4200 8400 18200 29400 40600

Defects AQL TOL

GRADE A ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS

Blemished 2.13 2.3 39 105 201 4200 667 913

EVM (Minor) 0.297 0.36 7 18 33 66 102 138

EVM (Major) 0.1 0.14 3 7 13 25 38 51

Dissimilar Varieties

& Shriveled units 1.84 2.0 34 92 175 365 579 792

Color Defective 4.9 5.2 82 229 445 941 1,503 2,063

GRADE B ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS

Blemished 3.3 3.5 57 158 304 641 1,022 1,400

EVM (Minor) 0.548 0.64 12 31 57 116 182 247

EVM (Major) 0.233 0.29 6 15 27 53 82 110

Dissimilar Varieties

& Shriveled units 2.5 2.7 45 122 234 490 780 1,068
9

§52.1669. Sample size.

The sample size used to determine whether the requirements of these standards are met shall be

as specified in the sampling plans and procedures in the "Regulations Governing Inspection and

Certification of Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Products Thereof, and Certain Other

Processed Products" (7 CFR 52.1 through 52.83).

§52.1670. Acceptance criteria.

(a) Quality Factors. A lot of frozen field peas and black-eye peas is considered as

meeting the requirements for quality if:

(1) The prerequisites specified in §52.1666 are met; and

(2) The Acceptance Numbers in Table I or II in §52.1667, as applicable, are

not exceeded.

(c) Single Sample Unit. Each unofficial sample unit submitted for quality

evaluation will be treated individually and is considered as meeting requirements

for quality and style if:

(1) The prerequisites specified in §52.1666 are met; and

(2) The Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL's) in Tables I & II in §52.1667, as

applicable, are not exceeded.