United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Processed

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Sugarcane Molasses

Effective date November 16, 1959
This is the second issue, as amended, of the United States Standards for Grades of

Sugarcane Molasses, published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of October 19, 1959

(24 FR 8365) to become effective November 16, 1959. This issue supersedes the first

issue, which has been in effect since August 11, 1952.

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

P.O. Box 96456, Rm. 0709, So. Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20090-6456
United States Standards for Grades of Sugarcane Molasses

Section Page No.

§52.3651 Product description. .............................................. 2

§52.3652 Grades of sugarcane molasses. .................................... 2

§52.3653 Recommended fill of container. .................................... 2

§52.3654 Ascertaining the grade. ........................................... 2

§52.3655 Required Brix solids, total sugar, ash, total sulfites. ...................... 3

§52.3656 Compliance with the required Brix solids and total sugar and maximum ....... 4

§52.3657 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored. ................... 5

§52.3658 Color. ......................................................... 5

§52.3659 Defects. ...................................................... 6

§52.3660 Methods of analysis. ............................................. 6

§52.3661 Color of sugarcane molasses. ..................................... 7

§52.3662 Application of USDA permanent glass color standards in classifying .......... 7

§52.3663 Brix solids. .................................................... 8

§52.3664 Ash. ......................................................... 8

§52.3665 Sulfur dioxide, p.p.m. ............................................ 8

§52.3666 Reducing sugars. ............................................... 8

§52.3667 Sucrose. ...................................................... 8

§52.3668 Total sugar. ................................................... 8

§52.3669 Ascertaining the grade of a lot. ..................................... 9

§52.3670 Score sheet for sugarcane molasses. ................................. 9

Authority: Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, Secs. 203, 205, 60 Stat. 1087, as amended,

1090, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624).

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

§52.3651 Product description.

Sugarcane molasses is the clean, sound, liquid product obtained by evaporating the juice

of sugarcane and the removal of all or any part of the commercially crystallizable sugar.

§52.3652 Grades of sugarcane molasses. 

(a) U.S. Grade A (or U.S. Fancy) is the quality of sugarcane molasses that

possesses a good flavor; that meets the requirements for Brix, sugar, ash,

and sulfites as outlined in Table I of this subpart; that possesses a good

color; that is practically free from defects; and that scores not less than 90

points when rated in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this

subpart. 

(b) U.S. Grade B (or U.S. Choice) is the quality of sugarcane molasses that

possesses a reasonably good flavor; that meets the requirements for Brix,

sugar, ash, and sulfites as outlined in Table I of this subpart; that possesses

a reasonably good color; that is reasonably free from defects; and that

scores not less than 80 points when rated in accordance with the scoring

system outlined in this subpart. 

(c) U.S. Grade C (or U.S. Standard) is the quality of sugarcane molasses that

possesses a fairly good flavor; that meets the requirements for Brix, sugar,

ash, and sulfites as outlined in Table I of this subpart; that possesses a fairly

good color; that is fairly free from defects; and that scores not less than 70

points when rated in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this

subpart. 

(d) Substandard is the quality of sugarcane molasses that fails to meet the

requirements of U.S. Grade C. 

§52.3653 Recommended fill of container. 

The recommended fill of container is not incorporated in the grades of the product since

fill of container, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. It is

recommended that each container be filled with molasses as full as practicable.

§52.3654 Ascertaining the grade. 

(a) General. In addition to considering other requirements outlined in the

standards, the following quality factors are evaluated in ascertaining the

grade of the product:
3

(1) Factors not rated by score points. 

(i) Brix solids. 

(ii) Total sugar. 

(iii) Ash. 

(iv) Total sulfites. 

(v) Flavor (palatability).

a. Good flavor means the sugarcane molasses

possesses a flavor and odor characteristic of first

centrifugal molasses of fancy quality. 

b. Reasonably good flavor means the sugarcane

molasses possesses a flavor and odor characteristic of

second centrifugal molasses of choice quality. 

c. Fairly good flavor means the sugarcane molasses

possesses a flavor and odor characteristic of second

centrifugal molasses of standard quality. 

(2) Factors rated by score points. The relative importance of each factor

which is scored is expressed numerically on the scale of 100. The

maximum number of points that may be given each such factor is: 

Factors Points

Color .............................. 50

Defects ............................ 50

Total sugar 100

...................................

§52.3655 Required Brix solids, total sugar, ash, total sulfites.

The required minimum Brix solids, minimum total sugar, maximum ash content, and

maximum total sulfites for the respective grade of sugarcane molasses are given in Table

I of this section. 
4

TABLE I

REQUIRED PERCENT OF MINIMUM 

BRIX SOLIDS, TOTAL SUGAR, MAXIMUM ASH AND TOTAL SULFITES

Grade (minimum) (minimum) (maximum) (ppm)

designation

Brix solids Total sugar Ash Total Sulfites

Average Limit for Average Limit for Average Limit for Average from

from all individual from all individual from all individual all containers

containers container containers container containers container

Grade A 79.0 78.5 63.5 63.0 5.00 5.25 200

Grade B 79.0 78.5 61.5 61.0 7.00 7.50 250

Grade C 79.0 78.5 58.0 57.0 9.00 10.00 250

SStd Under 79.0 N/A Under 58.0 N/A Over 9.00 N/A Over 250

§52.3656 Compliance with the required Brix solids and total sugar and maximum

ash content.

Lot compliance with the Brix, total sugar, and ash requirements shall be determined

separately for each factor, and the acceptance number prescribed in paragraph (c) of this

section shall be permitted for each factor. A lot is considered as meeting the Brix, total

sugar, and ash requirements for the respective grade as outlined in Table I of this

subpart: Provided, that 

(a) The average of the Brix and average of the total sugar values are equal to

or greater than the applicable minimum averages (from all containers) in

Table I; and the average of the ash values does not exceed the applicable

maximum average (from all containers) in Table I; and 

(b) None of the Brix or total sugar values are less than the applicable minimum

limits (for individual containers) in Table I; and none of the ash values

exceed the applicable maximum limit (for individual containers) in Table I;

and

(c) The number of Brix values or the number of total sugar values that are less

than the applicable minimum average but not less than the applicable

minimum limit of Table I or the number of ash values that are more than the

applicable maximum average but not more than the maximum limit of

Table I do not exceed the acceptance number prescribed for the sample size

in the indicated sampling plans contained in the regulations, 7 CFR 52.1

through 52.83. 
5

§52.3657 Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored.

The essential variations within each factor which is scored are so described that the value

may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. The numerical range

within each factor which is scored is inclusive (for example, 45 to 50 points means 45, 46,

47, 48, 49, or 50 points).

§52.3658 Color.

(a) General. Color has reference to the color of sugarcane molasses when

examined by means of the USDA permanent glass color standards for

sugarcane molasses. Information regarding these color standards may be

obtained by writing to:

Chief, Processed Products Branch

Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 96456, Rm. 0709, So. Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20090-6456

(b) "A" classification. Sugarcane molasses that possesses a good color may

be given a score of 45 to 50 points. Good color means that the color is

bright and typical of molasses properly prepared and processed from sound,

well matured sugarcane, and is equal to or lighter in color than USDA

permanent glass color standard No. 1 for sugarcane molasses. 

(c) "B" classification. If the sugarcane molasses possesses a reasonably

good color, a score of 40 to 44 points may be given. Sugarcane molasses

that falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B,

regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting

rule). Reasonably good color means that the color is reasonably bright and

is equal to or lighter in color than USDA permanent glass color standard No.

2 for sugarcane molasses. 

(d) "C" classification. Sugarcane molasses that possesses a fairly good color

may be given a score of 35 to 39 points. Sugarcane molasses that falls into

this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the

total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). Fairly good color means

that the color is equal to or lighter in color than USDA permanent glass color

standard No. 3 for sugarcane molasses. 

(e) "SStd" classification. Sugarcane molasses that fails to meet the

requirements of paragraph (d) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 34

points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total

score for the product (this is a limiting rule). 
6

§52.3659 Defects. 

(a) General. Defects refers to the cleanliness of the product and the degree of

freedom from harmless extraneous material. 

(b) "A" classification. Sugarcane molasses that is practically free from defects

may be given a score of 45 to 50 points. Practically free from defects

means that the appearance and edibility of the product are not affected by

the presence of harmless extraneous material which may be in suspension

or deposited as sediment in the container. 

(c) "B" classification. If the sugarcane molasses is reasonably free from

defects, a score of 40 to 44 points may be given. Sugarcane molasses that

falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B,

regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting

rule). Reasonably free from defects means that the appearance and

edibility of the product are not materially affected by the presence of

harmless extraneous material which may be in suspension or deposited as

sediment in the container. 

(d) "C" classification. Sugarcane molasses that is fairly free from defects may

be given a score of 35 to 39 points. Sugarcane molasses that falls into this

classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total

score for the product (this is a limiting rule). Fairly free from defects means

that the appearance and edibility of the product are not seriously affected by

the presence of harmless extraneous material which may be in suspension

or deposited as sediment in the container. 

(e) "SStd" classification. Sugarcane molasses that fails to meet the

requirements of paragraph (d) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 34

points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total

score for the product (this is a limiting rule). 

§52.3660 Methods of analysis. 

The analyses in this subpart, unless indicated otherwise, shall be made in accordance with

the applicable methods of analyses given in the Official Methods of Analysis of the

Association of Official Analytical Chemists or by any other means which give equivalent

results. 
7

§52.3661 Color of sugarcane molasses. 

(a) The color classification of sugarcane molasses is determined by means of

the USDA permanent glass color standards for sugarcane molasses as

outlined in this subpart. 

(b) Partially crystallized sugarcane molasses is liquefied by heating to

approximately 54.4E C (130E F) and cooled to approximately 20E C (68E F)

before ascertaining the color of the molasses by means of the USDA

permanent glass color standards for sugarcane molasses. 

§52.3662 Application of USDA permanent glass color standards in classifying the

color of sugarcane molasses.

(a) Sample containers. The sample containers for use in making the visual

color determination, as set forth in this subpart, are cells of colorless optical

glass or plastic having an internal width of 0.100 inch with outside

dimensions of approximately 1-7/16 inches by 3-1/2 inches. 

(b) Comparator; viewing box. The comparator or viewing box for the entire

color range in the visual comparison test is divided into five

compartments. Each compartment is provided with viewing openings

approximately 1-3/16 inches square in the two parallel sides. The USDA

permanent glass color standards are mounted in a fixed position in the front

openings of compartments 1, 3, and 5 of the comparator, compartments 2

and 4 being adapted to receive the sample containers. 

(c) Cloudy suspensions. Three cloudy suspensions are required. These are

referred to as "Cloudy A," "Cloudy B," and "Cloudy C," corresponding to

varying degrees of cloudiness in sugarcane molasses. The cloudy

suspensions are contained in capped square bottles of colorless, transparent

glass having an internal width at the center of 3.15 centimeters (1.24 inches),

with outside base dimensions of approximately 1-7/16 inches by 1-7/16

inches, having a capacity of two fluid ounces. 

(d) Visual comparison test. The color of a sample of sugarcane molasses is

compared with the USDA permanent glass color standards in the following

manner to determine its color classification: 

(1) Place the sample of sugarcane molasses in a clean, dry sample

container. 
8

(2) Place the container filled with the sample successively in

compartments 2 and 4 of the comparator and visually compare the

color of the sample with that of each of the glass color standards by

looking through them at a diffuse source of natural or artificial

daylight. 

(3) If the sample is appreciably cloudy in appearance, place a

suspension of comparable cloudiness (Cloudy A, Cloudy B, or Cloudy

C) behind the permanent glass color standard to facilitate color

classification. 

§52.3663 Brix solids. 

 

Brix solids means the applicable solids content of sugarcane molasses or the Brix value

as determined by the double dilution method by means of a Brix hydrometer corrected to

20E C (68E F). 

 

§52.3664 Ash. 

 

Percent ash means the ash content of sugarcane molasses determined as sulfated ash.

§52.3665 Sulfur dioxide, p.p.m. 

 

Sulfur dioxide, p.p.m., means the total sulfites determined by the Monier-Williams method

calculated as parts per million of sulfur dioxide (SO ). 2

§52.3666 Reducing sugars. 

 

The percent of reducing sugars is determined by the Lane-Eynon volumetric method for

reducing sugars. 

 

§52.3667 Sucrose. 

 

The percent of sucrose is determined by the Clerget or double polarization method, using

invertase as the inverting agent. 

 

§52.3668 Total sugar. 

 

The percent of total sugar is the sum of the percent of reducing sugars and the percent of

sucrose. 

 
9

§52.3669 Ascertaining the grade of a lot. 

The grade of a lot of sugarcane molasses covered by these standards is determined by

the procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of

Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Products Thereof, and Certain Other

Processed Food Products (7 CFR 52.1 through 52.83). 

§52.3670 Score sheet for sugarcane molasses.

Size and kind of container .............................................

Container mark or identification. .........................................

Label ..............................................................

Vacuum (inches) .....................................................

Volume (liquid measure) ...............................................

USDA color .........................................................

Brix solids, percent ...................................................

Reducing sugars, percent ..............................................

Sucrose, percent ....................................................

Total sugar, percent ..................................................

Ash, percent ........................................................

SO , p.p.m. ......................................................... 2

Factors Score Points

Color ...........................

Defects .........................

Total Score ..................

50 "B" 40-44 _1/

50 "B" 40-44 _1/

 100

"A" 45-50

"C" 35-39 _1/

"SStd" 0-34 _1/

"A" 45-50

"C" 35-39 _1/

"SStd" 0-34 _1/

Flavor: ( ) Good; ( ) Reasonably good; ( ) Fairly good; ( ) Off flavor.

Grade .............................................................

_1/ Indicates limiting rule
10

The United States Standards for Grades of Sugarcane Molasses (which is the second

issue) contained in this subpart (7 CFR 52.3651-52.3670) shall become effective 30 days

after the date of publication hereof in the FEDERAL REGISTER, and thereupon will

supersede the United States Standards for Grades of Edible Sugarcane Molasses (7 CFR

44.1-44.6) which have been in effect since August 11, 1952. 

Done at Washington, DC on: October 12, 1959 

/s/ 

Roy W. Lennartson 

Deputy Administrator 

Marketing Services 

FIRST ISSUE

Published in the Federal Register of July 10, 1952 (17 F.R. 6181, 44.1-44.6). Codified in

the Code of Federal Regulations of 1953 (7 CFR, 1-209, 44.1-44.6). 

SECOND ISSUE

Published in the Federal Register of October 15, 1959 (24 F.R. 8365).