AMSC N/A FSC 8940 

 A-A-20298C 

 September 15, 2015 

 SUPERSEDING 

 A-A-20298B 

 July 7, 2009 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION 

MEAT AND POULTRY SNACKS, CURED 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized 

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID). 

1. SCOPE. This CID covers cured meat and poultry snacks which are shelf stable, packed in 

commercially acceptable containers, suitable for use by Federal, State, local governments, and 

other interested parties; and as a component of operational rations. Please note: This 

document does not guarantee purchase of this item by USDA.1 

2. PURCHASER NOTES. 

2.1 Purchasers must specify the following: 

 - Variety(ies), type(s), style(s), class(es) and flavor(s) of meat and poultry snacks required 

(Sec. 3). 

 - When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 7.1). 

 - When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 7.2). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 10.1) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.2). 

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following: 

 - Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 11). 

3. CLASSIFICATION. The meat and poultry snacks must conform to the following list which 

must be specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

Varieties, types, styles, classes, and flavors.2

 

1

 For USDA purchase specifications please visit the following websites: Commodity Purchase Specifications for Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS) and Commodity Purchase Specifications for Farm Service Agency (FSA).

2

 Not all options are available from every manufacturer. Check with the manufacturer/distributor for availability. 

METRIC 
A-A-20298C 

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Variety A - Beef 

Variety B - Turkey 

Variety C - Chicken 

Variety D - Pork 

Variety E - Bacon 

Type I - Dry cured/jerky 

Type II - Moist cured/kippered 

Type III - Moist cured/lactate 

Type IV - Fermented 

Style a - Chopped and formed 

Style b - Natural style 

Class 1 - Strips 

Class 2 - Sticks 

Class 3 - Sliced 

Class 4 - Nuggets 

Class 5 - Other (as specified by the purchaser) 

Flavor (a) - Smoked 

Flavor (b) - Teriyaki 

Flavor (c) - Barbeque 

Flavor (d) - Peppered 

Flavor (e) - Hot 

Flavor (f) - Sweet and Spicy 

Flavor (g) - Cranberry 

Flavor (h) - Hickory 

Flavor (i) - Maple 

Flavor (j) - Other (as specified by the purchaser) 

4. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S NOTES. Manufacturer’s/distributor’s 

products must meet the requirements of the: 

- Processing guidelines (Sec. 5).

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 6). 

 - Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 7). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 8). 

 - Regulatory requirements (Sec. 9). 

 - Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 10). 
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 - Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 11). 

5. PROCESSING GUIDELINES. 

5.1 Processing. The meat and poultry snacks must conform to the applicable provisions of the 

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Meat and Poultry Inspection Regulations (9 

CFR Parts 301-381), the Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book, be manufactured under 

sanitary standard operation procedures (SSOP) (9 CFR Part 416), and be in compliance with 

hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system requirements (9 CFR Part 417). The 

meat and poultry snacks must contain no meat byproducts or variety meats. 

5.2 Food defense. The meat and poultry snacks must be processed and transported in 

accordance with the FSIS Food Defense Guidelines for the Transportation and Distribution of 

Meat, Poultry, and Processed Egg Products.

3 This guidance identifies the kinds of preventive 

measures food manufacturers, processors, or handlers may take to minimize the risk that food 

under their control will be subject to tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions. 

The implementation of enhanced food defense preventive measures provides for the security of a 

plant’s production processes and includes the storage and transportation of pre-production raw 

materials, other ingredients, and post-production finished product. 

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS. 

6.1 Ingredients. All ingredients must be declared by their common or usual name in descending 

order of predominance by weight (9 CFR § 317.2 and 9 CFR Part 381 Subpart N). The meat and 

poultry snacks must be produced from sliced, chunked (diced), or comminuted meat or poultry. 

The meat and poultry snacks may contain ingredients such as, but not limited to; salt, sweeteners, 

sodium lactate, acetic acid, citric acid, seasonings, potassium lactate, fish oil powder, flavorings, 

and sodium nitrite. The meat and poultry snacks may contain other ingredients in accordance 

with Meat and Poultry Inspection Regulations (9 CFR § 424.21). Other ingredients applicable 

for the flavor specified are acceptable. 

6.2 Finished product. The meat and poultry snacks must be characteristic of the particular 

variety, type, style, class, and flavor specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

6.2.1 Appearance and color. The meat and poultry snacks are to be free from bone, cartilage, 

coarse connective tissue, sections of tendons or ligaments, and glandular material. The beef and 

pork snacks must have a characteristic dark reddish brown to dark brown color. The turkey 

snacks must have a cured pink to reddish brown color. The chicken snacks must have a golden 

to tan color. The bacon snacks must have reddish brown lean and yellowish tan fat. Exterior 

surface of Style a meat and poultry snacks must have a slightly glossy appearance. Exterior 

 

3 http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/4f9d737a-1f3e-49ff-851b-4884fa946bd/Transportation_Security_Guidelines.pdf?MOD=AJPERES
A-A-20298C 

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surface of Style b meat and poultry snacks must have a dry appearance and may contain topical 

seasonings. 

6.2.2 Odor and flavor. The odor and flavor of the meat and poultry snacks must be 

characteristic of the flavor specified. There must be no foreign odors or flavors such as, but not 

limited to, burnt, scorched, moldy, rancid, sour or stale. 

6.2.3 Texture. The meat and poultry snacks must be firm and chewy. 

6.3 Foreign material. All ingredients must be clean, sound, and wholesome. 

7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS. 

7.1 Analytical and microbiological requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the analytical and microbiological requirements for the 

meat and poultry snacks must be as follows: 

TABLE I. Analytical requirements 

Type and Style4 Fat (NGT)5 (% by weight) 

Sodium (NGT) 

mg/100g 

Protein (NLT)6 (% by weight) 

pH 

(NGT)

Type I, Style a 32.0 2400 25.0 --- 

Type I, Style b 6.0 2800 35.0 --- 

Type II, Style a 16.0 2500 20.0 --- 

Type II, Style b 10.0 2500 30.0 --- 

Type III, Style b7 10.0 1600 30.0 5.6 

Type III, Style b8 10.0 1600 30.0 6.2 

Type IV, Style a 30.0 1600 20.0 5.2 

7.1.1 Aerobic plate count. The aerobic plate count for the meat and poultry snacks must not be 

greater than 75,000 colony forming units (CFU) per gram in four of five samples and not greater 

than 150,000 CFU per gram in any sample. 

7.1.2 E. coli count. The E. coli count must be less than 3 CFU per gram (no positive tubes in 

the standard 3 tube Most Probable Number technique) in four of five samples and not greater 

than 10 CFU per gram in any sample. 

 

4

 Unless otherwise specified, applies to Varieties A - E. 

5

 NGT = Not Greater Than 

6

 NLT = Not Less Than 

7

 Applicable to Variety A only 

8 Applicable to Variety B only 
A-A-20298C 

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7.1.3 Water activity. The water activity (aw) value must not be greater than 0.750 for Type I, 

Dry cured/jerky products. The aw value must not be greater than 0.850 for Type II, Moist 

cured/kippered products and Type III, Moist cured/lactate products. The water activity aw value 

must not be greater than 0.890 for Type IV, Fermented products. 

7.2 Analytical verification. Purchaser must specify manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification 

(Sec.10.1) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.2). 

7.3 USDA verification procedures. When USDA certification (Sec. 10.2) is specified in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing will be performed as follows. 

7.3.1 Product verification sampling. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the following procedures will be 

followed. Eight random samples must be composited and prepared according to AOAC Method 

983.18 for protein and fat analyses only. Eight random samples must be composited for pH 

analysis. Samples for microbiological analyses must be prepared according to the specified 

methodology. Five filled and sealed containers of product must be selected at random from the 

lot and individually analyzed for E. coli count and aerobic plate count testing. Eight randomly 

selected samples must be individually prepared and analyzed for aw. 

7.3.2 Analytical and microbiological testing. Analytical and microbiological testing must be 

made in accordance with the following methods described in the AOAC International Official 

Methods of Analysis (OMA) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Bacteriological 

Analytical Manual (BAM). 

 Test Method 

 aw 978.18 

 Protein 992.15 or 981.10 

 Fat 991.36, 2008.06, or 960.39 

 Sodium 985.35, 984.27, 2011.14 

 Aerobic plate count 966.23, 990.12, 2008.10, or BAM, Ch. 3 

E. coli 966.24, 991.14, or BAM, Ch. 4 sections C&F 

 pH 981.12 

7.3.3 Test results. The test results for protein and fat must be reported to the nearest 0.1 

percent. Test results for aw must be reported to the nearest 0.001 value. The test results for 

aerobic plate count must be reported to the nearest 1,000 CFU per gram. The test for sodium 

must be reported to the nearest mg per 100 grams. The test results for E. coli must be reported 

according to the test method. The test result for pH must be reported to the nearest 0.1 value. 
A-A-20298C 

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Any result not conforming to the analytical and microbiological requirements will be cause for 

rejection of the lot. 
A-A-20298C 

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8. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S PRODUCT ASSURANCE. The manufacturer/ 

distributor must certify that the meat and poultry snacks provided meet the salient characteristics 

of this CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and 

be the same meat and poultry snacks offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser 

reserves the right to require proof of conformance. 

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. When applicable, the meat components and the 

finished product must originate and be produced, processed, and stored in compliance with all 

applicable provisions of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and regulations promulgated 

thereunder. When applicable, the poultry component and the finished product must originate and 

be produced, processed, and stored in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Poultry 

Products Inspection Act and regulations promulgated thereunder (9 CFR Part 381). The delivered 

meat and poultry snacks must comply with all applicable Federal and State mandatory 

requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, 

and sale of the meat and poultry snacks in the commercial marketplace. Delivered meat and 

poultry snacks must comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. 

10. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser must specify 10.1 or 10.2.

10.1 Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, 

or purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor must certify that the meat and poultry snacks 

distributed meet or exceed the requirements of this CID. The manufacturer/distributor must 

certify via a Certificate of Conformance or other adequate documentation (as specified by the 

purchaser) that the meat and poultry snacks meet the analytical and physical requirements 

specified in Sec. 7 of this CID. 

10.2 USDA certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order that 

product quality or acceptability or both be determined, the USDA, Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS), Livestock, Poultry, and Seed (LPS) Program, Quality Assessment Division 

(QAD) or Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division, must be 

the certifying program. AMS inspectors must certify the quality and acceptability of the meat 

and poultry snacks in accordance with LPS Program or SCI Division procedures which include 

selecting random samples of the packaged meat and poultry snacks, evaluating the samples for 

conformance with the salient characteristic of this CID and officially documenting the findings 

accordingly. In addition, when required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, 

inspectors will examine the meat and poultry snacks for conformance to the United States 

Standards of Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) in effect on the date of the 

solicitation. 

11. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking must be 

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 
A-A-20298C 

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12. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 10.2 is specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, USDA certification must include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of the samples of packaged meat and poultry snacks, and compliance with 

requirements in the following areas: 

 - Processing guidelines (Sec. 5).

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 6). 

 - Analytical requirements when specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order (Sec. 

7.1). When USDA analytical testing is specified, LPS or SCI Division inspection 

personnel must select samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology 

Program (S&TP) laboratory for analysis. 

 - Packaging requirements (Sec. 11 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order). 

13. REFERENCE NOTES. 

13.1 USDA certification contacts. 

13.1.1 LPS Program contact. For USDA, LPS Program, QAD certification, contact USDA, 

AMS, LPS Program, QAD, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Room 3932, Stop 0258, 

Washington, DC 20250, telephone (202) 720-3271, or online at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/QAD. 

13.1.2 SCI Division contact. For USDA, SCI Division certification contact the Associate 

Director, Inspection Operations, SCI Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Room 1536 South 

Building, STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, 

telephone (202) 720-2482, fax (202) 720-0393, or via E-mail: 

Nathaniel.Taylor@ams.usda.gov.

13.2 Analytical testing and technical information contact. For USDA technical information 

on analytical testing, contact a member of the Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, 

S&TP, AMS, USDA, STOP 0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 

20250-0272, telephone (202) 690-0621 or via E-mail: KerryR.Smith@ams.usda.gov. 

13.3 Sources of documents.

13.3.1 Sources of information for nongovernmental document is as follows: 

Copies of the AOAC International OMA may be obtained from: AOAC International, 2275 

Research Boulevard, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850-3250, telephone (301) 924-7077. 

Internet address: http://www.aoac.org for nonmembers and http://www.eoma.aoac.org for 

members and AOAC OMA subscribers. 
A-A-20298C 

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13.3.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Applicable provisions of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers are contained in 7 

CFR Part 42, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act are contained in 16 CFR Parts 500 to 503, 

and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1 to 199. These 

documents may be purchased from: Superintendent of Documents, New Orders, P.O. Box 

979050, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover/ NOVUS, 

and American Express) purchases may be made by calling the Superintendent of 

Documents on (866) 512-1800, (202) 512-1800. These documents may also be obtained free 

of charge on the Internet at: 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR.

Copies of the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) are available from: FDA, CFSAN, 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration are available on the Internet at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006949.htm. 

Copies of the FSIS Food Defense Guidelines for the Transportation and Distribution of Meat, 

Poultry, and Processed Egg Products is available online from: USDA, FSIS on the Internet 

at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/4f9d737a-1f3e-49ff-851b74884fa946bd/Transportation_Security_Guidelines.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

Copies of this CID and the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) are 

available from: Director, SCI Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

STOP 0240, Washington, DC 20250, via E-mail: CIDS@ams.usda.gov or on the Internet 

at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/cids and

http://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/condition-food-container-manual.

Copies of this CID are also available online at: ASSIST Online (https://assist.dla.mil) or 

ASSIST Quick Search (http://quicksearch.dla.mil) or from the Standardization Documents 

Order Desk, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services, Building 4D, 700 

Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094.

Beneficial comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc., and any data 

which may improve this document should be sent to: DLA Troop Support, ATTN: DLAFTSA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092 or via E-mail: 

dscpsubsweb@dla.mil. 
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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Custodians DOJ - BOP 

 HHS - NIH, IHS 

 Army - GL USDA - SCP 

 Navy - SA VA - OSS 

 Air Force - 35 

 PREPARING ACTIVITY: 

Review Activities 

 DLA - SS 

 Army - MD, QM 

 Navy - MC (Project No. 8940-2015-001) 

NOTE: The activities listed above were interested in this document as of the date of this 

document. Since organizations and responsibilities can change, you should verify the currency 

of the information above using the ASSIST Online database at https://assist.dla.mil. 

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, age, 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 individual's income is derived from 

any public assistance program, or protected 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 employment 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 Discrimination 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 to 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 Avenue, 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 to 

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 contact 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 (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 
A-A-20298C 

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FOR DLA TROOP SUPPORT WEB POSTING 

DSCP-FTSA July 20, 2016 

SUBJECT: Document Change to Commercial Item Description A-A-20298C - Meat and 

 Poultry Snacks, Cured 

 

 The following change is made to subject document for all current, pending, and future 

procurements until the document is formally revised or amended: 

Section 7.3.2 - add 2007.04 as an additional test method for fat. 

 

 Ms. Sally Gallagher, telephone number (215) 737-2961 or DSN 444-2961 may be contacted if 

additional information is required.