United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Spinach Leaves (Fresh)

Effective December 27, 1946

(Reprinted - January 1997)
 Packing of the product in conformity with the requirements of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply 1

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

1

United States Standards for Grades of Spinach Leaves (Fresh) 1

Grades 

51.1730 U.S. Extra No. 1.

51.1731 U.S. No.1.

51.1732 U.S. Commercial.

Application of Tolerances

51.1733 Application of tolerances.

Definitions

51.1734 Similar varietal characteristics.

51.1735 Well trimmed.

51.1736 Damage.

Grades

51.1730 U.S. Extra No. 1.

"U.S. Extra No. 1" shall consist of spinach leaves of similar varietal characteristics which are fairly

clean, well trimmed, free from coarse stalks, seedstems, seedbuds, crowns and roots, sandburs or

other kinds of burs, decay, and from damage caused by clusters of leaves, wilting, discoloration,

freezing, foreign material, disease, insects, mechanical or other means. 

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than 5

percent, by count, of any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, including not more

than 1 percent for spinach leaves which are affected by decay. 

§51.1731 U.S. No. 1. 

"U.S. No. 1" shall consist of spinach leaves of similar varietal characteristics which are well

trimmed, free from coarse stalks, seedstems, seedbuds, crowns and roots, sandburs, or other kinds

of burs, decay, and from damage caused by clusters of leaves, wilting, discoloration, freezing, dirt,

or other foreign material, disease, insects, mechanical or other means. 

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than 10

percent, by count, of any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, including not more

than 1 percent for spinach leaves which are affected by decay. 

§51.1732 U.S. Commercial. 

"U.S. Commercial" shall consist of spinach leaves of similar varietal characteristics which are well

trimmed, free from coarse stalks, seedstems, seedbuds, crowns and roots, sandburs, or other kinds

of burs, decay, and from damage caused by clusters of leaves, wilting, discoloration, freezing, dirt

or other foreign material, disease, insects, mechanical or other means. 

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than 20

percent, by count, of any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, including not more

than 1 percent for spinach leaves which are affected by decay. 
2

Application of Tolerances 

§51.1733 Application of tolerances. 

The contents of individual containers in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subject to the

following limitations, provided the averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances specified: 

(a) When a tolerance is 10 percent, or more, individual containers in any lot shall have not more

than one and one-half times the tolerance specified. 

(b) When a tolerance is less than 10 percent, individual containers in any lot shall have not more

than double the tolerance specified. 

Definitions 

§51.1734 Similar varietal characteristics. 

"Similar varietal characteristics" means that the spinach shall be generally of one type, as crinkly

leaf type, or flat leaf type. No mixture of varieties shall be permitted which materially affects the

appearance of the lot. 

§51.1735 Well trimmed. 

"Well trimmed" means that the leafstems or petioles are not excessively long in relation to the size

of the leafblades. 

§51.1736 Damage.

"Damage" means any defect which materially affects the appearance, or the edible or shipping

quality of the individual leaves or of the lot as a whole.