United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

U.S. Standards May 1988

Distribution: FGIS, OSP, Industry Originating Office: FMD PPMAB

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Subpart K -- United States Standards for Sunflower Seed

Contents

Subpart K -- United States Standards for Sunflower Seed 1

Terms Defined 2

Principles Governing the Application of Standards 2

Grades and Grade Requirements 3
Official US Standards for Grain

Sunflower Seed

May 1988

Page 2

Terms Defined

§ 810.1801 Definition of sunflower seed.

Grain that, before the removal of foreign material, consists of 50.0 percent or more of

cultivated sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus L.) and not more than 10.0 percent of 

other grains for which standards have been established under the United States Grain 

Standards Act.

§ 810.1802 Definition of other terms.

(a) Cultivated sunflower seed. Sunflower seed grown for oil content. The term seed in

this and other definitions related to sunflower seed refers to both the kernel and hull

which is a fruit or achene.

(b) Damaged sunflower seed. Seed and pieces of sunflower seed that are badly 

grounddamaged, badly weather-damaged, diseased, frost-damaged, heat-damaged, 

molddamaged, sprout-damaged, or otherwise materially damaged.

(c) Dehulled seed. Sunflower seed that has the hull completely removed from the

sunflower kernel.

(d) Foreign material. All matter other than whole sunflower seeds containing kernels that

can be removed from the original sample by use of an approved device and by

handpicking a portion of the sample according to procedures prescribed in FGIS

instructions.

(e) Heat-damaged sunflower seed. Seed and pieces of sunflower seed that are 

materially discolored and damaged by heat.

(f) Hull (Husk). The ovary wall of the sunflower seed.

(g) Kernel. The interior contents of the sunflower seed that are surrounded by the hull.

Principles Governing the Application of Standards

§ 810.1803 Basis of determination.

Each determination of heat-damaged kernels, damaged kernels, test weight per bushel,

and dehulled seed is made on the basis of the grain when free from foreign material.

Other determinations not specifically provided for in the general provisions are made on

the basis of the grain as a whole, except the determination of odor is made on either the

basis of the grain as a whole or the grain when free from foreign material.
Official US Standards for Grain

Sunflower Seed

May 1988

Page 3

Grades and Grade Requirements

§ 810.1804 Grades and grade requirements for sunflower seed.

Grade

Minimum

test weight

per bushel

(pounds)

Maximum limits of--

Damaged Sunflower Seed

Dehulled

seed

(percent)

Heat

damaged

(percent)

Total

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 25.0 0.5 5.0 5.0

U.S. No. 2 25.0 1.0 10.0 5.0

U.S. Sample grade--

U.S. Sample grade is sunflower seed that:

(a) Does not meet the requirements for the grades U.S. Nos. 1 or 2; or

(b) Contains 8 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.20 percent of the 

sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria spp.), 2 or more 

castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign substance(s), or a 

commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 10 or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or 

equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 600 grams of sunflower seed; or

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor; or

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.