# U Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Agricultural Marketing

Service

Fruit and Vegetable Program

Specialty Crops Inspection

Division 

# U nited States Standards

for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima)

Beans

Effective August 2 9 , 2013This is the second issue, as amended, of the United States Standards for Grades of

Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of July 30

, 2013 ( 78 FR 45907 ) to become effective August 29 , 2013

. This issue supersed es the first issue, which has been in effect since July 2 1 , 19 62

.

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 l evels 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 fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, these standards are designed to facilitate orderly ma rketing by providing a convenient basis for buying and selling, for establishing quality control programs, and for determining loan values.

T he U.S. grade standards, grading manuals , handbooks or instructions for inspection of

several fresh and processed fruits and vegetables are available on the i nternet and
upon request at the address below

. These manuals or instructions contain detailed interpretations of the grade standards and provide step

- by

- step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standard s 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 g rading manuals obtained from:

Director

, Specialty Crops Inspection Division Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS

, U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 024 0 Washington, D.C. 20250 Phone: (202) 720

- 5870 Fax: (202) 720

- 0393

____ ___________________________________________________________________ Authority : 7 U.S.C. 1621

- 1627

.

Note : Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic

Ac t, or with applicable State laws and regulations.

Non

- Discrimination Policy: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, ag e, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an in dividual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or pr otected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To File an Employment Complaint: If you wish to file an empl oyment complaint, you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel action. Additional information can be

found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html

. To File a Program Complaint: If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrim ination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html , or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632

- 9992 t o request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenu e, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250

- 9410, by fax (202) 690

- 7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov

. Persons with Disabilities: Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish t o file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877

- 8339 or (800) 845

- 6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contac t us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (2 02)

720

- 2600 (voice and TDD).United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

1 United States Standards for G rades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans

Section Page No.

§52.5241 P roduct D escription. 2

§52.5242 G rades of F ro zen B eans. 2

§52.5243 A scertaining the G rade of a S ample U nit. 2

§52.5244 A scertaining the R ating for the F actors which are S cor ed. 3

§52.5245 C olor. 3

§52.5246 D efects. 4

§52.5247 C haracter. 8

§52.5248 C ooking P rocedure. 8

§52.5249 A scertaining the G rade of a L ot

. 8United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

2 §52.5241 Produ ct description.

(a) Frozen speckled butter (lima) beans means the frozen product prepared from the clean, sound, freshly

- vined (but not seed

- dry) seed of the speckled butter (lima) bean plant (Phaseolus limensis). The skins of the seed are pigmented and the external colors range from variegated speckling of green, pink, red, and/or lavender to purple. The product is prepared by shelling the pods; by washing, blanching, and properly draining the seed which may have been sorted and blended or otherwise pre pared in accordance with good commercial practice; and is frozen in accordance with good commercial practice and maintained at temperatures necessary for the preservation of the product.

(b) Frozen speckled butter (lima beans, hereinafter referred to as f rozen beans

, mean any of the varieties of frozen speckled butter beans or speckled lima

beans.

§52.5242 Grades of frozen beans.

(a) U.S. Grade A is the quality of frozen beans that possess a good flavor; that possess a good color; that are practically fr ee from defects; that possess a good character; and that score not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(b) U.S. Grade B is the quality of frozen beans that possess a normal flavor; that

possess a reasonably good color; that are reasonably free from defects; that possess a reasonably good character; and that score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(c) Substandard is the quality of f rozen beans that fail to meet the requirements of

U.S. Grade B.

§52.5243 Ascertaining the grade of a sample unit.

(a) General. In addition to considering other requirements outlined in the standards, the following quality factors are evaluated in ascert aining the grade of the product:

(1) Factor not rated by score points.

(i) Flavor.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

3 (a) Good flavor means that the product

- before and after cooking

- has a good, characteristic flavor and odor and is free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

(b) Normal flavor means that the product may be slightly lacking in good flavor but is free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

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

s cored is expressed numerically on the scale of 100. The maximum number of points that may be given each such factor is:

Factors Points

Color

Defects

Character

Total Score 30

40

30

100

(b) Evaluation of quality. The scores for the factors of color and absence of defects are determined immediately after thawing to the extent that the product is substantially free from ice crystals and the beans can be handled as individual

units. The evaluation of the factor of character is made after the product is

cooked (see §52.5248)

.

§52.5244 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 such factors and expressed numerically . The numerical range within each factor which is scored is inclusive (for example, 27 to 30 points means 27, 28, 29, or 30 points).

§52.5245 Color.

(a) General. The evaluation of color is determined on the thawed product. The color is based upon the exterior skin and cotyledon color of the beans.

(b) Color characteristics. Similar color characteristics means the beans are of the speckled type. Very young succulent beans that contain only slight speckling of the skins or a mixture of various speckle d varieties are considered as beans

with similar color characteristics.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

4 (c) "A" classification. Frozen beans that possess a good color may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. Good color means that:

(1) The over

- all color is bright and typical for spe ckled types of similar color
characteristics;

(2) Not less than 15 percent, by weight, of the beans possess at least a slight tinge of green in the cotyledons;

(3) Not more than 20 percent, by weight, of the beans may possess a light tan to
tan color;

( 4) There may be present no more than 4 beans per 10 ounces that are light brown to brown or a pronounced mottled brown; and

(5) The presence of abnormally colored beans does not materially affect the over

all color.

(d) "B" classification. If the frozen beans possess a reasonably good color, a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Frozen beans that fall 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 g ood color means
that:

(1) The over

- all color may be slightly dull or the beans may possess a light tan to tan color but such colors are typical of speckled types of similar color characteristics;

(2) There may be no more than 8 beans per 10 ounces that a re light brown to brown or a pronounced mottled brown; and

(3) The presence of abnormally colored beans does not seriously affect the over

- all

color.

(c) "SStd" classification. Frozen beans that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (d) of this sec tion may be given a score of 0 to 23 points an d shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§52.5246 Defects.

(a) General. The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from har mless extraneous vegetable material, from pieces of beans, shriveled beans, sprouted beans, from beans that are blemished or seriously blemished, and from other defects that affect the appearance or edibility of the product.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

5 (b) Definitions of harmless ex traneous vegetable material. Harmless extraneous vegetable materials for the purposes of ascertaining allowances in this section are grouped as:

(1) Flat type

- predominantly flat green, tender vegetable material, such as but not limited to pieces of pods or leaves of the bean plant or similar plant; or

(2) Spherical type

- predominantly spherical or elliptical

- shape vegetable material, such as but not limited to seeds from plants other than the lima bean plant; or

(3) Cylindrical type

- predominantly cylindr ical green vegetable material, such as but not limited to stems or pieces of stems of the bean plant or similar plant.

(c) Basis of allowances for harmless extraneous vegetable material. The allowances for harmless extraneous vegetable material are based on 30 ounces of frozen beans. When considering sample units of less than 30 ounces, the allowances provided in this section for the respective grade classification will be permitted in a single sample unit: Provided, that the average of such defects

in the entire sample does not exceed such allowances.

(d) Definitions of other defects.

(1) A Piece of bean means:

(i) A bean from which one

- half or more of one cotyledon (or the equivalent thereof)
has become detached; or

(ii) Two detached whole cotyledo ns; or

(iii) Pieces of detached broken cotyledons aggregating the equivalent of an average size whole cotyledon; or

(iv) A whole detached skin or portions of detached skin aggregating the equivalent of an average size whole skin.

(2) Shriveled bean mean s a bean that is materially wrinkled and not of normal plumpness.

(3) Sprouted bean means a bean that shows an external shoot protruding prominently beyond the cotyledon or skin.

(4) Blemished means blemished to the extent that the appearance or eating q uality of the bean is materially affected.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

6 (5) Seriously blemished means blemished or discolored to such an extent that the appearance or eating quality of the bean is seriously affected.

(e) "A" classification. Frozen beans that are practically free fr om defects may be given a score of 36 to 40 points. Practically free from defects means that:

(1) There may be present no more than the specified defects in Table I of this subpart for the Grade A classification; and

(2) Notwithstanding the allowances f or such specific defects the presence of harmless extraneous vegetable material, pieces of beans, shriveled and sprouted beans, and blemished and seriously blemished beans, or any other defects or defective units not specifically mentioned, individually or collectively, does not materially affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(f) "B" classification.

(1) If the frozen beans are reasonably free from defects, a score of 32 to 35 points may be given. Frozen beans that fall into this classi fication shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

(2) Reasonably free from defects means that:

(i) There may be present no more than the specified defects in Table I of this subpart for the Grade B classification; and

(ii) Notwithstanding the allowances for such specific defects the presence of harmless extraneous vegetable material, pieces of beans, shriveled and sprouted beans, and blemished and seriously blemished beans, or any ot her defects or defective units not specifically mentioned, individually or collectively, does not seriously affect the appearance or eating quality of the product.

(g) "SStd" classification. Frozen beans that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (f ) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 31 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

7 Table I

Maximum Allowances for Defects

Kind of defect Grade A Grade B

When present as a single group Combination of
any two groups Groups of harmless

extraneous vegetable material For each 30 ounces net weight, average

_ 1 /

Flat material

Spherical material

Cylindrical 1/4 square inch or 1 piece of any

size

or 1 unit

or

1 piece (or pieces) not over

1/2 inch aggregate length 1 square inch or 1 piece of any

size.

or 3 units

or

1 piece (or pieces) not over

2 inches aggregate length. 1/2 square inch or 1 piece of any

size.

2 units.

1 piece (or piece s) not over 1 inch aggregate length.

Pieces of bean

Shriveled beans; and sprouted

beans.

Blemished beans; and seriously

blemished beans. 20 pieces

2 beans

Total 10 beans,

but no more than 5 seriously

blemished of

which no more than 1 may be accompanied by

material

discoloration. Count per 10 ounces net weight

40 pieces.

8 beans.

Total 20 beans, but no more than 10 seriously blemished of which no more than 2 may be accompanied by

material discoloration.

_ 1 / See §52.5246(c ) Basis of allowances for harmless extraneous vegetable

material.United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans ( August 29 , 2013)

8 §52.5247 Character.

(a) General. The evaluation of character is based on the degree of tenderness of the skins and cotyledons and the uniformity of such tenderness and texture after

cook ing the product by the prescribed cooking procedure (See §52.5248).

(b) "A" classification. Frozen beans that possess a good character may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. Good character means the beans are reasonably tender and are practically unif orm in texture and tenderness.

(c) "B" classification. If the frozen beans possess a reasonably good character, a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Frozen beans that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B, regardless o f the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). Reasonably good character means the beans are fairly tender and may be variable in texture and tenderness, and the cotyledons may be mealy but are not hard.

(d) "SStd" classification. Frozen b eans that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 23 points and shall not be graded above Substandard regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§52.5248 Cooking procedure.

(a) The cooking procedure that follows is not intended to be a recipe for purposes of food preparation but is for the purposes of ascertaining compliance with requirements for applicable quality factors as outlined in this subpart.

(b) Place 10 ounces of the thawed or free

- flowing product in a two

- quart sauce pan containing 400 milliliters of tap water (without the addition of salt) which has been brought to a boil. Continue to heat rapidly until the water begins to boil again. Cover the pan and boil fo r 40 minutes, reducing the heat to maintain a constant boil, except that very young succulent beans may be cooked for a lesser length of time.

(c) Immediately after cooking pour the product on to a flat receptacle and spread out to facilitate cooling. Th e product should be checked for flavor, odor, tenderness,

and texture while still warm.

§52.5249 Ascertaining the grade of a lot.

The grade of a lot of frozen beans covered by these standards is determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations G overning Inspection and Certification of Processed Products Thereof, and Certain Other Processed Food Products (§52.1 to §52.83).