United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Mixed Nuts in the Shell

Effective August 18, 1981

(Reprinted - January 1997)
 Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the 1

Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or with applicable State laws and regulations.

1

United States Standards for Grades of Mixed Nuts in the Shell 1

General

51.3520 General

Grades

51.3521 U.S. Extra Fancy.

51.3522 U.S. Fancy.

51.3523 U.S. Commercial or U.S. Select.

General

§51.3520 General.

Any lot of mixed nuts in the shell which is classified as meeting the requirements of a U.S. grade

for mixed nuts in the shell is required to conform to the applicable mixture, sizes, and grades set

forth in one of the following grades. Each species of nut shall be graded individually in accordance

with U.S. standards currently in effect for that species. The percentages in the mixture shall be

determined on the basis of weight, and each species must conform to the minimum and maximum

percentages specified in the mixture as set forth in §§51.3521 -- 51.3523. A composite sample

shall be drawn to determine mixture, size, and grade. When any species in a lot fails to meet the

applicable requirements as to mixture, size, or grade prescribed for a particular U.S. grade for

mixed nuts in the shell, the entire lot fails to meet the requirements of such U.S. grade.
2

Grades

§51.3521 U.S. Extra Fancy. 

Nut Species Minimum size Minimum

Allowable mixture

Minimum Maximum grade

percent percent

Almonds 10 40 28/64 inch (11.1 mm) U.S. No. 1

Brazils 10 40 Medium U.S. No. 1

Filberts 10 40 Long type varieties: 44/64 inch (17.5 mm) U.S. No. 1

Round type varieties: 49/64 inch (19.4 mm)

Pecans 10 40 Extra Large U.S. No. 1

Walnuts 10 40 Large U.S. No. 1

§51.3522 U.S. Fancy. 

Nut Species Minimum size Minimum

Allowable mixture

Minimum Maximum grade

percent percent

Almonds 10 40 28/64 inch (11.1 mm) U.S. No. 1

Brazils 10 40 Medium U.S. No. 1

Filberts 10 40 Long type varieties: 44/64 inch (17.5 mm) U.S. No. 1

Round type varieties: 49/64 inch (19.4 mm)

Pecans 10 40 Large U.S. No. 1

Walnuts 10 40 Medium U.S. No. 1
3

§51.3523 U.S. Commercial or U.S. Select.

Nut Species Minimum size Minimum

Allowable mixture

Minimum Maximum grade

percent percent

Almonds 5 40 28/64 inch (11.1 mm) U.S. No. 1

Brazils 5 40 Medium U.S. No. 1

Filberts 5 40 Long type varieties: 34/64 inch (13.5 mm) U.S. No. 1

Round type varieties: 45/64 inch (17.9 mm)

Pecans 5 40 Medium - (a) External quality: U.S. No. 1

(b) Internal quality: 75 percent U.S. No. 1

quality with not more than 10 percent seriously

damaged kernels, including therein not more than

7 percent which are rancid, moldy, decayed, or

injured by insects, including not more than onehalf of one percent live insects inside the shell.

Walnuts 5 40 Baby - (a) External quality: 85 percent U.S. No. 1 quality.

(b) Internal quality: 85 pervent U.S. No. 1

quality, except that the lot need only meet the

requirement for U.S. No. 2 grade for kernel

color; with not more than 8 percent seriously

damaged kernels, including therein not more than

5 percent which are damaged by insects.