Specialty 1400 Independence Avenue, SW. 

Crops Room 1536-S, STOP0240

Program Washington, DC 20250-0240

August 4, 2022 

SECTION 32 SPECIFICATION for WHOLE 

SHELLED ALMONDS

COMMODITY SPECIFICATION

for SHELLED TREE NUTS – April 2020

This specification is for Section 32 Purchases only, unless otherwise

stated in the Solicitation/IFB.

The purpose of this document is to revise the specification for Shelled Tree Nuts and replace 

Amendment 1. 

New/revised text is in blue. 

INDIVIDUAL COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Whole Shelled Almonds

Inspection and Certification for grade must be performed prior to processing and must meet all

of the requirements listed below, as well as the current issuances of the Commodity Specification 

for Shelled Tree Nuts and the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement – Domestic 

Programs (MSCP-D). 

1. Process Types: The Whole Almonds may be either Natural (Pasteurized) or Roasted. The 

Natural and Roasted process types may not be intermingled within a truckload. 

2. Grade: U.S. No. 1 

a. All Mission type almonds must meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade except 

for an additional 10 percent chip and scratch allowance (20% total) prior to 

processing.

3. Style - Whole

4. Types (Classification): Nonpareil, California, and Mission. 

All varieties which are classified under the Types Nonpareil, California, and Mission shall be 

acceptable for purchase by the USDA and are adapted from The Almond Board of California 

Technical Kit 2015 ( abc_technical_kit_2015_0.pdf (almonds.com)). 

5. Size: Whole style: The following count ranges per ounce are permissible: 18/20, 20/22, 23/25, 

25/27, 27/30, 30/32, 32/34, 34/36, 36/40, 34/40, 40/50. 

a. When a range in count is specified, the whole kernels shall be fairly uniform in 

size, and the average count per ounce shall be within the range specified. Doubles 

and broken kernels shall not be used in determining counts.
b. Sizes designations may not be intermingled within a truckload.

 

6. Final Package size: 12/2 lb. For shipments of almonds between the supplier and final 

packaging point, the bulk containers may be of any size which is mutually agreeable between 

both parties. 

7. Treatment/Fumigation/Pasteurization/Roasting: 

 

The process types Whole Natural (pasteurized) or Roasted almonds shall be so treated as 

to achieve a 4-log reduction of Salmonella bacteria by at least one of the following means: 

Propylene Oxide (PPO), steam treatment, or heat treatment, such as roasting, drying, 

pasteurization, or other validated methods as near as possible, but not to exceed 45 

calendar days prior to final packaging. Verification that such treatment has been 

performed must be provided to the SCI Federal or Federal/State inspector. 

8. Aflatoxin Requirements and Methods: 

Samples for Aflatoxin testing must be drawn by the SCI Federal or Federal-State 

Inspection Service and certified by the USDA National Science Laboratories or an 

approved USDA laboratory (see link below). A Certificate of Conformance must be 

furnished to the Federal or Federal-State Inspector and is valid for 45 calendar days. 

Samples for Aflatoxin testing must be drawn prior to processing, and must meet the 

following requirements:

Analysis for: Requirement Method

Aflatoxins <15 ppb AOAC 991.31 

or equivalent

Link for USDA approved laboratories or for USDA laboratory approval for Aflatoxin: 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/lab-testing/aflatoxin 

National Science Laboratories, Laboratory Approval and Testing Division 

Science & Technology Program

801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite B

Gastonia, NC 28054

Phone: (704) 867-3873 (Main) 

Phone: (704) 833-1525 (Direct) 

Fax: (855) 296-1230 

 

9. Analytical and Microbiological Requirements and Methods: 

 Samples for all Analytical and Microbiological testing must be drawn by the SCI Federal or 

Federal-State Inspection Service and certified by the USDA National Science Laboratories or 

Safe Food Alliance. A Certificate of Conformance must be furnished to the Federal or FederalState Inspector is valid for 45 calendar days. Samples for analytical and microbiological 

testing must be drawn after roasting or fumigation. All samples must meet the following 

requirements:

Analysis for: Requirement Method

Moisture Roasted - ≤ 3.5%

Natural (Pasteurized) – ≤ 6.5%

AOAC 925.40 or equivalent 

method
Free Fatty Acids (FFA) ≤ 1.5% free fatty acid (as oleic) AOAC 940.28 or equivalent 

method

Peroxide value (PV) ≤ 5.0 meq peroxide/kg oil AOAC 965.33 or equivalent 

method

Aerobic Plate Count < 10,000 CFU/g AOAC 996.23 or equivalent 

Salmonella spp. (375g) Negative BAM Ch 5; AOAC 2013.09 

or equivalent

Listeria spp.(375g) Negative AOAC 2016.08, 2013.10 or 

equivalent

Staphylococcus aureus < 10 CFU/g or less than 3/g using 

MPN technique

BAM Ch 12; AOAC 2003.07 

or equivalent

Escherichia coli Negative BAM Ch 4; AOAC 991.14 or 

equivalent

Yeast & Mold < 1,000 CFU/g 

BAM Ch 18; Pour Plate, 

AOAC 997.02 or 

equivalent

 Link to Safe Food Alliance: https://safefoodalliance.com/

National Science Laboratories, Laboratory Approval and Testing Division 

Science & Technology Program

801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite B 

Gastonia, NC 28054

Phone: (704) 867-3873 (Main) 

Phone: (704) 833-1525 (Direct) 

Fax: (855) 296-1230 

10. Roasted can be nitrogen flushed or vacuum packed. 

11. Shipping, Storage, and Case markings: 

a. The packaged almonds must be shipped and held at an air temperature not to exceed 

50 degrees F. 

b. At final destination, the almonds must be stored under refrigeration at 35 to 40 degrees F. 

and if possible, 40% to 60% relative humidity. This is to ensure an adequate shelf-life. The 

case markings must read: “STORE UNDER REFRIGERATION 35 TO 40 DEGREES F.” 

Bulk product inspected at shipping point destined for packaging into final primary containers 

(12/2lb bags), must have a “Positive Lot Identified” (PLI) sticker and be received intact by a 

USDA representative at the receiving facility. The USDA representative will be onsite during 

final packaging and perform inspection on the finished product to ensure the remainder of the 

commodity specification requirements are met. The product must be packaged into the 12/2 lb. 

bags within 45 calendar days of the quality inspection. Both facilities are required to have 

current SCI Plant Surveys and Food Defense System Safety audits. 

 

12. Truckload case count: 1,540 per truckload. 

13. Material Codes and UPC numbers

Shelled Tree Nuts WBSCM Material Primary Container Secondary Container 

Almonds Roasted 

Whole Shelled

(12/2 lb.)

100393 7 15001 00393 5 1 07 15001 00393 2 
Almonds Natural 

Whole Shelled

(12/2 lb.)

100907 7 15001 00907 4 1 07 15001 00907 1

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.