United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Processed

Products 

Branch

United States

Standards for

Grades of Frozen

Cauliflower

Effective September 26, 1996
This is the fourth issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Cauliflower

published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of August 27, 1996 (61 FR 43939) to become

effective September 26, 1996. This issue supersedes the third issue, which has been in

effect since November 12, 1951.

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 Division, AMS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456

Washington, D.C. 20090-6456
UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GRADES OF

FROZEN CAULIFLOWER

EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 26, 1996

Section Page No.

§52.721 Product description. ....................................... 2

§52.722 Styles. .................................................. 2

§52.723 Requirements for style. ..................................... 2

§52.724 Definitions of terms. ....................................... 2

§52.725 Grades. ................................................. 4

§52.726 Factors of quality. ......................................... 5

§52.727 Requirements for classified quality factors. ..................... 6

§52.728 Sample size. ............................................. 9

§52.729 Acceptance criteria. ....................................... 9

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.
2

§52.721 Product description.

Frozen cauliflower is prepared from fresh flower heads of the cauliflower plant (Brassica

oleracea botrytis) by trimming, washing, and blanching and is frozen and maintained at

temperatures necessary for preservation of the product.

§52.722 Styles.

(a) Clusters mean individual segments of trimmed and cored cauliflower heads,

which measure not less than 20 mm (0.75 in) in the greatest dimension

across the top of the unit.

(b) Nuggets or Small Clusters mean individual segments of trimmed and cored

cauliflower heads, which measure from 6 mm (0.25 in) to less than 20 mm

(0.75 in) in the greatest dimension across the top of the unit.

§52.723 Requirements for style.

(a) Clusters style. A maximum of 10%, by weight, of clusters less than 20 mm

(0.75 in) in the greatest dimension across the top of the unit are allowed.

(b) Nuggets style. A maximum of 20%, by weight, of clusters, 20 mm (0.75 in)

or greater, and a maximum of 10%, by weight, of clusters less than 6 mm

(0.25 in) in the greatest dimension across the top of the unit are allowed.

§52.724 Definitions of terms.

(a) Acceptable quality level (AQL) means 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. Good appearance means that the overall appearance or

edibility of the cauliflower is not materially affected and; for clusters style, a

maximum of 5%, by weight, of chaff is allowed for the sample unit. For

nuggets style, a maximum of 10%, by weight, of chaff is allowed for the

sample unit.

(c) Blemished means the cluster is affected or damaged by pathological injury,

insect injury, or any other injury, which singly or in combination, affects the

appearance or eating quality of the unit.
3

(1) Minor blemished means a unit with a dark blemish(s), which in the

aggregate, exceeds the area of a circle 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter but

not 6 mm (0.25 in) or a light blemish(s), which in the aggregate,

exceeds the area of a circle 6 mm (0.25 in) in diameter.

(2) Major blemished means a unit with a dark blemish(s), which in the

aggregate, exceeds the area of a circle 6 mm (0.25 in) in diameter.

(d) Chaff mean individual segments of trimmed and cored cauliflower material,

with and without head material, which measure less than 6 mm (0.25 in) in its

greatest dimension.

(e) Character means the extent of firmness and compactness of the cluster and

its degree of freedom from fuzzy, ricey and soft units.

(1) Fuzzy character means a cluster with sections of head that have

elongated individual flowers (or pedicels) that result in a very fuzzy

appearance.

(2) Ricey character means a cluster with sections of head on which the

ultimate branches have become elongated, causing the flower clusters

to separate and present a loose or open and sometimes granular

appearance.

(3) Soft character means a cluster that is limp and flabby and the flesh

yields readily when handled.

(f) Color defect. 

(1) Minor means that after cooking, the cluster possesses a color that is

more than slightly darker than light cream to dark cream.

(2) Major means that after cooking, the cluster possesses a color that is

seriously darkened or discolored.

(g) Core material means the loose or attached center portion of the cauliflower

head which is tough or fibrous.

(h) Defect means any nonconformance of a unit(s) of product from a specified

requirement of a single quality characteristic.

(i) Fragment means a stem or other cauliflower material without head material

that is 6 mm (0.25 in) or greater in the greatest dimension (excluding tough

or fibrous core material, loose leaves, and chaff).
4

(j) Loose leaves mean leaf material, exclusive of small tender leaves, that are

detached from the stem.

(k) Mechanical damage means that the appearance of the unit is affected by

trimming, or the unit is crushed or broken to the extent that the appearance

is materially affected.

(l) Normal flavor and odor means that the cauliflower, before and after cooking,

has a flavor and odor that is normal and is free from objectionable flavors and

odors.

(m) Sample unit means the amount of product specified to be used for grading.

For varietal characteristics, flavor and odor and appearance, a sample unit

is the entire container. For blemishes, character, color, core material,

fragments, mechanical damage and loose leaves, a sample unit is 100 grams

for Nuggets Style and 50 units for Clusters Style. It may be:

(1) The entire contents of a container;

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

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

(n) Tolerance (TOL.) means the percentage of defective units allowed for each

quality factor for a specific sample size.

(o) Unit means one cluster or piece of cauliflower.

§52.725 Grades.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of frozen cauliflower that meets the following

prerequisites in which the cauliflower:

(1) Has similar varietal characteristics,

(2) Has a normal flavor and odor,

(3) Has a good appearance; and

(4) Is within the limits for defects as specified in Tables I and II, of this

subpart, as applicable for the style in § 52.727.
5

(b) U.S. Grade B is the quality of frozen cauliflower that meets the following

prerequisites in which the cauliflower:

(1) Has similar varietal characteristics;

(2) Has a normal flavor and odor,

(3) Has a good appearance; and

(4) Is within the limits for defects as specified in Tables I and II, of this

subpart as applicable for the style in § 52.727.

(c) Substandard is the quality of frozen cauliflower that fails to meet the

requirements of U.S. Grade B.

§52.726 Factors of quality.

The grade of frozen cauliflower is based on meeting the requirements for the

following factors:

(a) Prerequisites;

(1) Varietal characteristics,

(2) Flavor and odor; and

(3) Appearance.

(b) Classified Quality Factors;

(1) Major blemished;

(2) Total blemished (Major and Minor);

(3) Fuzzy character;

(4) Ricey character;

(5) Soft character;

(6) Major color defects;

(7) Total color defects (Major and Minor);
6

(8) Core material;

(9) Fragments;

(10) Loose leaves; and

(11) Mechanical damage.

§52.727 Requirements for classified quality factors.
7

TABLE I

AQL's AND TOLERANCES (TOL.) FOR DEFECTS IN CLUSTERS STYLE

BASED ON 50 UNITS OF PRODUCT FOR 13 SAMPLE UNITS, 50x13 = 650 UNITS

Sample Units x Sample unit Size 1x50 3x50 6x50 13x50 21x50 29x50

Units of Product 50 150 300 650 1050 1450

Defects AQL TOL

GRADE A ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS

Major Blemished 3.8 5.0 4 9 17 33 50 67

Total Blemished

(Major&Minor)

8.2 10.0 7 18 33 65 101 137

Fuzzy Character 1.3 2.0 2 4 7 13 20 26

Ricey Character 8.2 10.0 7 18 33 65 101 137

Soft Character 0.612 1.0 1 2 4 7 10 14

Major Color Defect 0.612 1.0 1 2 4 7 10 14

Total Color Defect

(Major&Minor)

6.4 8.0 6 15 26 52 80 108

Core Material 2.17 3.0 3 6 11 20 31 41

Fragments 3.8 5.0 4 9 17 33 50 67

Mechanical Damage 8.2 10.0 7 18 33 65 101 137

Loose Leaves

(each piece)

2.17 3.0 3 6 11 20 31 41

GRADE B ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS

Major Blemished 8.2 10.0 7 18 33 65 101 137

Total Blemished

(Major&Minor)

13.0 15.0 10 26 48 98 154 209

Fuzzy Character 6.4 8.0 6 15 26 52 80 108

Ricey Character 13.0 15.0 10 26 48 98 154 209

Soft Character 2.9 4.0 3 8 13 26 39 53

Major Color Defect 3.8 5.0 4 9 17 33 50 67

Total Color Defect

(Major&Minor)

13.8 16.0 11 27 51 104 163 221

Core Material 3.8 5.0 4 9 17 33 50 67

Fragments 8.2 10.0 7 18 33 65 101 137

Mechanical Damage 17.6 20.0 13 34 63 130 205 279

Loose Leaves

(each piece)

6.4 8.0 6 15 26 52 80 108
8

TABLE II

AQL's AND TOLERANCES (TOL.) FOR DEFECTS IN NUGGETS OR SMALL CLUSTERS STYLE

BASED ON 100 GRAMS OF PRODUCT FOR 13 SAMPLE UNITS, 100x13 = 1300 UNITS

Sample Units x Sample Unit Size 1x100 3x100 6x100 13x100 21x100 29x100

Grams of Product 100 300 600 1300 2100 2900

Defects AQL TOL

GRADE A ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS (GRAMS)

Major Blemished 3.8 5.0 7 17 31 61 94 127

Total Blemished

(Major&Minor)

8.2 10.0 13 33 61 123 194 263

Fuzzy Character 1.3 2.0 3 7 12 23 36 48

Ricey Character 8.2 10.0 13 33 61 123 194 263

Soft Character 0.612 1.0 2 4 7 12 19 24

Major Color Defect 2.17 3.0 4 11 19 37 56 76

Total Color Defect

(Major&Minor)

8.2 10.0 13 33 61 123 194 263

Core Material 2.17 3.0 4 11 19 37 56 76

Fragments 3.8 5.0 7 17 31 61 94 127

Mechanical Damage 8.2 10.0 13 33 61 123 194 263

Loose Leaves

(each piece)

3.8 5.0 7 17 31 61 94 127

GRADE B ACCEPTANCE NUMBERS (GRAMS)

Major Blemished 8.2 10.0 13 33 61 123 194 263

Total Blemished

(Major&Minor)

13.0 15.0 18 48 91 189 298 407

Fuzzy Character 6.4 8.0 10 26 48 98 153 208

Ricey Character 13.0 15.0 18 48 91 189 298 407

Soft Character 2.9 4.0 6 13 24 48 74 99

Major Color Defect 6.4 8.0 10 26 48 98 153 208

Total Color Defect

(Major&Minor)

13.8 16.0 19 51 96 200 316 430

Core Material 2.17 3.0 4 11 19 37 56 76

Fragments 3.8 5.0 7 17 31 61 94 127

Mechanical Damage 17.6 20.0 24 63 121 251 398 544

Loose Leaves

(each piece)

6.4 8.0 10 26 48 98 153 208
9

§52.728 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).

§52.729 Acceptance criteria.

(a) Style. A lot of frozen cauliflower, is considered as meeting the requirements

for style if the requirements in § 52.723, as applicable, are not exceeded.

(b) Quality Factors. A lot of frozen cauliflower is considered as meeting the

requirements for quality if:

(1) The prerequisites specified in § 52.726 are met; and

(2) The Acceptance Numbers in Table I or II in § 52.727, 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 § 52.726 are met; and

(2) The requirements for style in § 52.723 and the Acceptable Quality

Levels (AQL's) in Tables I & II in § 52.727, as applicable, are not

exceeded.

Dated:

 

Robert C. Keeney

Director

Fruit and Vegetable Division