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A-A-20366

July 24, 2012

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

SWEET POTATO PRODUCTS, PRECOOKED, FROZEN

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers frozen precooked sweet potato products (frozen sweet potato 

products) prepared from sweet potatoes, packed in commercially acceptable containers, suitable 

for use by the Federal, State, local governments, and other interested parties. The frozen sweet 

potato products may be partially precooked.

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following:

- Type(s) of packs, style(s), size(s) and count(s), blanching method(s), monosodium 

glutamate (MSG) content, seasoning(s), and cooking/heating method(s) of frozen sweet 

potato products desired (Sec. 3).

- Cooking oil(s) required for style(s) of frozen sweet potato products (Sec. 3).

- When the age requirements at the time of delivery is other than specified (Sec. 5.5).

- When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 6.1).

- When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 6.2).

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 9.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 9.4).

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following:

- Food Defense Section 9.1: Food Defense System Survey (FDSS) (Sec. 9.1.1), or Food 

Defense Addendum to Plant Systems Audit (PSA) (Sec. 9.1.2), or (Sec. 9.1.2 with 9.2.1).

- Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 9.2 with 9.2.1) or (Sec. 9.2 with 9.2.2).

- Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 10).

3. CLASSIFICATION. The frozen sweet potato products shall conform to the following list 

which shall be specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

Types of packs, styles, sizes and counts, blanching methods, seasonings, MSG content,

cooking/heating methods and cooking oils.

METRIC
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Type of pack I - Retail

Type of pack II - Institutional

Style A - Round

Size and count:

Cross-sectional dimension 1 - 1.9 to 2.54 cm (3⁄4 to 1 in) diameter

Cross-sectional dimension 2 - Other (purchaser specify)

Length a - 2.54 to 3.18 cm (1 to 1-1/4 in)

Length b - Other (purchaser specify)

Count i - 47-54 units per 454 g (1 lb)

Count ii - Other (purchaser specify)

Style B - Strip (includes “shoestring”)

Size: 

Cross-sectional dimension 1 - Shoestring: less than 9.5 by 9.5 mm (3/8 by 3/8 in)

Cross-sectional dimension 2 - Other (purchaser specify)

Length a - 70 percent or more are 5.08 cm (2 in) in length or longer

Length b - Other (purchaser specify)

Style C - Waffle cut

Style D - Slices, straight cut

Style E - Slices, crinkle cut

Style F - Fat-free wedges (with or without peel) (water blanched only) (21 Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR) § 101.62 (b))

Style G - Patty

Style H - Mashed

Style I - Cuts or cubes

Style J - Other (purchaser specify)

Blanching method (i) - Water/oil blanched (0 grams of Trans Fats) 1

Blanching method (ii) - Water blanched: pre-baked 1

Blanching method (iii) - Steam blanched 1

Blanching method (iv) - Other (purchaser specify) 1

 

1 Does not include Styles H and I.
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Seasoning (1) - Seasoned with spices 2

Seasoning (2) - Unseasoned 2

Seasoning (3) - Seasoned with sea salt 2, 3

Seasoning (4) - Seasoned with spices and salt 2, 3

Seasoning (5) - Other (purchaser specify) 2

MSG Content (a) - With no added MSG

MSG Content (b) - With added MSG

Cooking/heating method (i) - Oven-baked

Cooking/heating method (ii) - Deep-fry 4

Cooking/heating method (iii) - Other

Cooking oil (a) - Regular vegetable oils (0 grams of Trans Fats) 5

Cooking oil (b) - Hydrogenated vegetable oils 5, 6

4. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S NOTES. Manufacturer’s/distributor’s 

products shall meet the requirements of the:

- Salient characteristics (Sec 5).

- Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 6).

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s assurance (Sec. 7).

- Regulatory requirements (Sec. 8).

- Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 9).

- Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 10).

5. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

5.1 Processing. The frozen sweet potato products shall be processed in accordance with Current 

Good Manufacturing Practices (21 CFR Part 110).

 

2 Flavor enhancers such as MSG shall not be used.

3 When frozen sweet potato products are purchased by USDA, the frozen sweet potatoes shall meet the requirements in 21 CFR 

§ 101.61 (b) (4) for low sodium.

4 Shall not be used in the USDA procurements.

5

 Does not include Styles H and I.

6

 Shall not be used in the USDA procurements.
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5.2 Food security. The frozen sweet potato products should be processed and transported in 

accordance with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Guidance for Industry: Food 

Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance. 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/Foo

dDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm083075.htm. This guidance identifies the kinds of 

preventive measures food manufacturers, processors, or handlers may take to minimize the risk 

that food under their control will be subject to tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist 

actions. The implementation of enhanced food security preventive measures provides for the 

security of a plant’s production processes and includes the storage and transportation of preproduction raw materials, other ingredients, and postproduction finished product.

5.3 Raw ingredients and formulation. The frozen sweet potato products shall be prepared 

from clean, sound, orange-flesh sweet potatoes. The preformed frozen sweet potato products

shall contain other food grade ingredients necessary for binding or seasoning; e.g., salt and 

pepper. The potatoes may be chopped, shredded, or diced and formed into appropriate units 

according to acceptable standard commercial practice. FDA approved additives for preservation 

of color may be used. The frozen sweet potato products shall contain coating ingredients 

approved by FDA as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances and may contain spices or

seasonings. When specified by the purchaser in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the 

frozen sweet potato products shall not contain MSG.

5.4 Finished product.

5.4.1 Appearance. Any chips present may no more than slightly detract from the appearance of 

the product.

5.4.2 Flavors and odors. The frozen sweet potato products shall be free from objectionable 

flavors and odors.

5.4.3 Texture. The frozen sweet potato products shall possess a good texture with moderately 

crisp external surfaces.

5.4.4 Oiliness/Sogginess. The frozen sweet potato products, Style A rounds, Style B strips,

Style C waffle cut, Style D straight cut slices, and Style E crinkle cut slices, shall not be 

excessively oily and shall be practically free from sogginess. The Style F fat-free wedges, Style 

G patty, Style H mashed, and Style I cuts or cubes, shall be oil free (21 CFR § 101.65 (c)).

5.4.5 Defects. Any defects present (including dark brown surface or internal discolorations, 

crushed units, and carbon specks) may no more than slightly detract from the appearance or 

edibility of the product. The allowance for defects for sweet potatoes is contained in the United 

States Standards for Grades of Frozen Sweet Potatoes.
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5.4.5.1 Defect limits. The frozen sweet potato products shall not have more than 5 percent 

small pieces.

5.4.5.2 Defect definitions.

Irregular-shaped Units are any units that do not conform to the general shape desired for the 

product.

Small Cluster is any group of two or three units that are stuck or attached together and cannot 

readily be separated without damaging the individual units.

Large Cluster is any cluster which contains more than three units.

Chip is any piece of sweet potato material which is equal to one-fourth or less of the apparent 

volume of the predominant size unit.

5.5 Age requirement. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order, the frozen sweet potato products shall be prepared from sweet potatoes from the latest 

year’s crop and shall be processed and packaged less than 1 year prior to purchase by the 

purchaser.

6. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS.

6.1 Analytical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the frozen sweet potato fries shall contain a minimum solids percentage of 25.0 

percent by weight. The frozen sweet potato products (excluding fries) shall contain a minimum 

solids percentage of 10.0 percent by weight.

6.2 Product verification. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is specified in 

the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the following procedures will be followed.

6.2.1 Sampling procedures. USDA inspection service will select the number of product 

containers based on USDA inspection service sampling procedures and plans.

6.2.2 Composite sample. Analytical testing shall be performed on a composite sample. The 

composite sample shall be 226.8 g (8 oz) and prepared from subsamples drawn from randomly 

selected containers. The number of subsamples used to create the composite sample shall be 

based on USDA procedures.

6.3 Analytical testing. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the 

analyses shall be made in accordance with the following methods from the AOAC International 

Official Methods of Analysis (OMA):
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Test Method

Solids 984.25

6.4 Test results. The test results for solids shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent. Any 

result not conforming to the analytical requirements shall be cause for rejection of the lot.

7. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S PRODUCT ASSURANCE. The manufacturer/

distributor shall certify that the frozen sweet potato products provided shall meet the salient 

characteristics of this CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance 

practices, and be the same frozen sweet potato products offered for sale in the commercial 

market. The purchaser reserves the right to require proof of conformance.

8. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered frozen sweet potato products shall 

comply with all applicable Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to 

the preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sales of the frozen sweet potato 

products in the commercial marketplace. Delivered frozen sweet potato products shall comply 

with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging 

and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. The frozen sweet potato products

shall comply with the allergen labeling requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 

Act.

9. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 9.3 or 9.4; purchaser 

may specify 9.1 with 9.1.1, or 9.1 with 9.1.2, 9.1.2 with 9.2.1, or 9.2 with 9.2.1, or 9.2 with 9.2.2.

9.1 Food Defense. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a Food 

Defense System Survey (FDSS) shall be conducted by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS), Processed Products Division (PPD). Food Defense requirements include a documented 

and operational food defense plan that provides for the security of a plant’s production processes 

and includes the storage and transportation of pre-production raw materials and other ingredients 

and postproduction finished product. The plan shall address the following areas: (1) food 

security plan management; (2) outside and inside security of the production and storage facilities; 

(3) slaughter, when applicable, and processing, including all raw material sources; (4) shipping 

and receiving; (5) storage; (6) water and ice supply; (7) mail handling; (8) personnel security; and 

(9) transportation, shipping, and receiving.

9.1.1 FDSS. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS shall be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, PPD. The FDSS verifies that operators of food establishments have 

implemented measures to minimize the risk of tampering or other criminal actions against the 

food under their control. (An AMS, FDSS verifies the participating company’s adherence to the 

FDA’s “Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security 

Preventive Measures Guidance.”) For further information, see section 12.1 and 12.3.2.
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9.1.2 Food Defense Addendum to Plant Systems Audit (PSA). When required in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a Food Defense addendum shall be conducted by USDA, 

AMS, PPD auditors. This verifies that operators of food establishments have implemented 

measures to minimize the risk of tampering or other criminal actions against the food under their 

control. (An AMS, FDSS verifies the participating company’s adherence to the FDA’s 

“Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security 

Preventive Measures Guidance.”) For further information, see section 12.1 and 12.3.2.

9.2 Manufacturer’s quality assurance. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order, the product manufacturer shall be required to provide evidence, by certificate, that the 

manufacturing plant has undertaken one of the following quality assurance measures within 12 

months prior to providing a bid, or no later than 10 business days from the date of awarding of 

the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame may result in 

the contract being terminated for cause.

9.2.1 PSA. A PSA conducted by USDA, AMS, or other audit performed by a third party 

auditing service and is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the 

contract. (An AMS PSA verifies the manufacturer's capability to produce products in a clean 

sanitary environment in accordance with 21 CFR Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing 

Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, and verifies that the 

manufacturer has in place an internal quality assurance program.) (Perform with Food Defense 

addendum when required.)

9.2.2 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA, AMS, or other survey performed by a 

third party auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the 

contract. (An AMS plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of the survey, the manufacturer 

produces products in a clean sanitary environment in accordance with 21 CFR Part 110 -

Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.)

9.3 Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the frozen sweet potato products

distributed meets or exceeds the requirements of this CID.

9.4 USDA certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order that 

product quality and acceptability or both be determined, the USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable 

Program (FV), PPD, shall be the certifying program. PPD inspectors shall certify the quality and 

acceptability of the frozen sweet potato products in accordance with PPD procedures which 

include: selecting random samples of the frozen sweet potato products, evaluating the samples 

for conformance with the salient characteristics of this CID and other contractual requirements, 

and documenting the findings on official PPD score sheets and/or certificates. In addition, when 

required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, PPD inspectors will examine the frozen 
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sweet potato products for conformance to the United States Standards for Condition of Food 

Containers in effect on the date of the solicitation.

10. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking shall be 

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

11. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 9.4 is specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, USDA certification shall include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of samples of frozen sweet potato products, and compliance with requirements in 

the following areas:

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 5).

- Analytical requirements when specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order

(Sec. 6.1). When USDA analytical testing is specified, PPD inspection personnel shall

select samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology Programs (S&TP) 

laboratory for analysis.

- Packaging requirements (Sec. 10 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order).

12. REFERENCE NOTES.

12.1 USDA certification, FDSS, Plant Survey, and PSA contact. For a USDA certification, 

FDSS, Plant Survey, and PSA, contact the Chief, Inspection and Standardization Branch, 

PPD, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 

20250-0247, telephone (202) 720-4693, Fax (202) 690-1527, or via E-mail: 

albert.hoover@ams.usda.gov or chere.shorter@ams.usda.gov.

12.2 Analytical testing and technical information. For USDA technical information on 

analytical testing, contact the Director, USDA, AMS, S&T, Laboratory Division, 801 Summit 

Crossing Place, Suite B, Gastonia, NC 28054, telephone (704) 867-3873, Fax (704) 853-

2800, or via E-mail: AMSLaboratoryDivision@ams.usda.gov.

12.3 Sources of documents.

12.3.1 Source of information for nongovernmental document is as follows:

Copies of the AOAC International OMA of the may be obtained from: AOAC International,

481 North Frederick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2471, telephone (301) 

924-7077. Internet address: http://www.aoac.org for non-members and 

http://www.eoma.aoac.org for members and AOAC OMA subscribers.

12.3.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:
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Applicable provisions of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act are contained in 16 CFR, Parts 500

to 503, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1 to 199. 

These documents may be purchased from: These documents may be purchased from:

Superintendent of Documents, New Orders, P.O. Box 979050 St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. 

Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover/NOVUS, and American Express) purchases may

be made by calling the Superintendent of Documents on (866) 512-1800, (202) 512-1800. 

These documents may also be obtained free of charge on the Internet at:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR.

Copies of the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Sweet Potatoes are available from: 

Director, PPD, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-0247, telephone (202) 720-4693, Fax (202) 690-1527 or on the 

Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/processedinspection.

Copies of this CID, the United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers, and beneficial 

comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc. and any data which may 

improve this CID are available from and/or provided to: Director, PPD, FV, AMS, USDA, 

STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0243, telephone (202) 

720-9939, Fax (202) 690-1527, via E-mail: FQAStaff@ams.usda.gov or on the Internet at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/FQAS.

CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

DOJ - BOP

HHS - NIH, FDA

USDA - FV

VA - OSS

PREPARING ACTIVITY:

USDA - FV

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, 

color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual 

orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any 

public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center 

at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 

Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 

(English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.