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August 13, 2014

SUPERSEDING

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October 21, 2008

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

TEA MIXES, INSTANT

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

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers instant tea mixes 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), style(s), type(s), and flavor(s) of instant tea mixes 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. 10.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.4).

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following:

- Food Defense Section 10.1: Food Defense System Survey (FDSS) (Sec. 10.1.1), or Food 

Defense Addendum to Plant Systems Audit (PSA) (Sec 10.1.2), or (Sec. 10.1.2 with 

10.2.1). 

- Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 10.2 with 10.2.1) or (Sec. 10.2 with 10.2.2).

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

3. CLASSIFICATION. The instant tea mixes must conform to the following list which must

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

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).

METRIC

AMSC N/A FSC 8955

 
A-A-20183D

Varieties, styles, types, and flavors.

2

Variety I - Black tea

Style A - Sweetened with nutritive sweeteners

Type 1 - Regular (caffeinated)

Flavor a - Unflavored

Flavor b - Lemon

Flavor c - Raspberry

Flavor d - Peach

Flavor e - Mango

Flavor f - Half tea and half lemonade

Flavor g - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Type 2 - Decaffeinated

Flavor a - Unflavored

Flavor b - Lemon

Flavor c - Half tea and half lemonade

Flavor d - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Style B - Sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners

Type 1 - Regular (caffeinated)

Flavor a - Unflavored

Flavor b - Lemon

Flavor c - Raspberry

Flavor d - Peach

Flavor e - Half tea and half lemonade

Flavor f - Peach apricot

Flavor g - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Type 2 - Decaffeinated

Flavor a - Unflavored

Flavor b - Lemon

Flavor c - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Variety II - Green

Style A - Sweetened with nutritive sweeteners

Type 1 - Regular (caffeinated)

Flavor a - Unflavored

Flavor b - Honey and lemon 

Flavor c - Pomegranate

Flavor d - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

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

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Style B - Sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners

Type 1 - Regular (caffeinated)

Flavor a - Raspberry 

Flavor b - Honey and lemon

Flavor c - Peach mango

Flavor d - Mango pineapple

Flavor e - Blackberry pomegranate

Flavor f - 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).

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

5. PROCESSING GUIDELINES.

5.1 Processing. The instant tea ingredient must be an extract processed from the leaves, buds, 

and tender stems of the varieties of the species Camellia sinensis or Thea sinensis known to be 

suitable for making tea for consumption as a beverage. The instant tea mixes must be processed 

in accordance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (21 Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR) Part 110).

5.2 Food security. The instant tea mixes must be processed and transported in accordance with 

the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Guidance for Industry: Food Producers, 

Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.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 security 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 postproduction finished 

product.

3 http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm.

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6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

6.1 Ingredients. The instant tea mixes must contain ingredients appropriate for the variety(ies), 

type(s), style(s), and flavor(s) of instant tea mixes specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order. The instant tea mixes must comply with the regulations governing the labeling 

of foods that make direct or indirect representations with respect to a primary recognizable flavor 

per 21 CFR § 101.22. All ingredients must be cold water soluble.

6.1.1 Sweeteners. Nutritive or non-nutritive sweeteners may be used in the pre-sweetened 

instant tea mixes. The nutritive sweeteners must be white, refined, granulated cane or beet sugar, 

honey, fructose, or a combination thereof. The non-nutritive sweeteners must be aspartame, 

saccharin, acesulfame-K, sucralose, or a combination thereof, or other non-nutritive sweeteners 

approved by the FDA for food use.

6.1.2 Additional ingredients. The instant tea mixes may contain additional ingredients such as 

food acidulants, anti-caking agents, emulsifiers, and buffering agents as permitted by the FDA. 

Food additives or Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substances must be of Food Chemicals 

Codex purity or US Pharmacopeia-National Formulary quality and meet the related FDA 

regulations on food additives or GRAS requirements. 

6.1.3 Lemon flavor or lemon juice powder. The instant tea mixes containing lemon flavoring 

or juice powder must be protected from oxidation, rancidity, evaporation or other types of 

deterioration by encapsulation or entrapped in an edible material (such as dextrose, corn syrup 

solids or vegetable gums).

6.1.4 Carbohydrate bulking agent. The instant tea mixes may contain carbohydrate bulking 

agents which, when used, must be either maltodextrin or corn syrup solids.

6.2 Finished product. The instant tea mixes must be free from lumps that do not fall apart with 

light finger pressure and be completely soluble. Variety I - Black tea mixes must possess a 

typical light brown color. Variety II - Green tea mixes must possess a light to medium amber 

color. All tea mixes must have uniform distribution of ingredients and no aggregates of 

individual ingredients or anti-caking agents. The instant tea mixes must have an odor 

characteristic of the variety, style, type, and flavor of tea mix specified. The reconstituted instant 

tea mixes must have a flavor and odor characteristic of the variety, style, type, and flavor of tea 

mix specified.

6.3 Foreign material. The finished product must be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from 

evidence of rodent or insect infestation.

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7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS.

7.1 Analytical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the instant tea mixes must comply with the following analytical requirements:

Table I. Analytical requirements (percent by weight)

7.2 Product verification. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is specified in 

the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing must be performed on a composite 

sample. The composite sample must be 113 g (4 oz) and prepared from five randomly selected 

subsamples. Subsamples must be a minimum of one packet/container and must contain the 

appropriate number of packets/containers to yield a 113 g (4 oz) sample when composited.

7.3 Analytical testing. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the 

analyses must be made in accordance with the following methods from the AOAC International 

Official Methods of Analysis (OMA):

Test Method 

Moisture 925.45A or 925.19

Titratable acidity 920.92

Sugar 977.20

7.4 Test results. The test results must be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent except for the 

following. The moisture content for Style A of Variety I and II, and titratable acidity for Style A 

4 As citric acid on a dry basis.

5 Titratable acidity for half tea and half lemonade instant tea mix must range between 1.7 and 2.6 percent. 

6 Titratable acidity for honey and lemon instant tea mix must range between 12.0 and 18.0 percent.

Moisture

maximum

Sugar

maximum

Titratable acidity

minimum4

Titratable acidity 

maximum

Variety I - Black

 Style A, Type 15 0.70 97.0 2.1 2.6

 Style A, Type 25 0.70 97.0 2.2 3.1

 Style B, Type 1, 

 flavor b and e

5.0 - - 24.0 40.0

 Style B, Type 1, 

 flavor a, c, d, f

5.0 - - 24.0 37.0

 Style B, Type 2 5.0 - - 24.0 37.0

Variety II - Green

 Style A, Type 1 0.70 98.0 0.70 1.1

 Style B, Type 16 5.0 - - 24.0 30.0

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of Variety II, must be reported to the nearest 0.01 percent. Any result not conforming to the 

analytical requirements will be cause for rejection of the lot.

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

distributor must certify that the instant tea mixes provided meets the salient characteristics of this 

CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be the 

same instant tea mixes offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the 

right to require proof of conformance.

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered instant tea mixes must comply with all 

applicable Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, 

packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of the instant tea mixes in the commercial 

marketplace. Delivered instant tea mixes 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 10.3, or 10.4; 

purchaser may specify 10.1 with 10.1.1, 10.1 with 10.1.2, 10.1.2 with 10.2.1, 10.2 with 10.2.1, or 

10.2 with 10.2.2.

10.1 Food defense. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS must

be conducted by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Fruit and Vegetable Program 

(FV), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division. Food defense requirements include a 

documented and operational food defense plan that provides for the security of a plant’s 

production processes and includes the storage and transportation of pre-production raw materials 

and other ingredients and postproduction finished product. The plan must address the following 

areas: (1) food security plan management; (2) outside and inside security of the production and 

storage facilities; (3) slaughter, when applicable, and processing, including all raw material 

sources; (4) shipping and receiving; (5) storage; (6) water and ice supply; (7) mail handling; (8) 

personnel security; and (9) transportation, shipping, and receiving.

10.1.1 FDSS. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS must be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division. The FDSS verifies that operators of food 

establishments have implemented measures to minimize the risk of tampering or other criminal 

actions against the food under their control. (An AMS, FDSS verifies the participating 

company’s adherence to the FDA’s “Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and 

Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.”) 

10.1.2 Food defense addendum to PSA. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, a food defense addendum must be conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division 

auditors. This verifies that operators of food establishments have implemented measures to 

minimize the risk of tampering or other criminal actions against the food under their control. (An 

AMS, FDSS, PSA verifies the participating company’s adherence to the FDA’s “Guidance for 

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Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures 

Guidance.”)

10.2 Manufacturer’s quality assurance. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the product manufacturer must be required to provide evidence, by certificate, 

that the manufacturing plant has undertaken one of the following quality assurance measures 

within 12 months prior to providing a bid or no later than 10 business days from the date of the 

awarding of the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame 

may result in the contract being terminated for cause.

10.2.1 PSA. A PSA conducted by USDA, AMS, or other audit performed by a third party 

auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the contract. 

(An AMS PSA verifies the manufacturer's capability to produce products in a clean sanitary 

environment in accordance with 21 CFR Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice in 

Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, and verifies that the manufacturer has in 

place an internal quality assurance program.) 

10.2.2 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA, AMS, or other survey performed by 

a third party auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the 

contract. (An AMS plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of the survey, the manufacturer 

produces products in a clean sanitary environment in accordance with 21 CFR Part 110 -

Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.)

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

or purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor must certify that the instant tea mixes distributed 

meets or exceeds the requirements of this CID.

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

product quality and acceptability or both be determined, the SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, 

must be the certifying program. SCI Division inspectors must certify the quality and 

acceptability of the instant tea mixes in accordance with SCI Division procedures, which include 

selecting random samples of the instant tea mixes evaluating the samples for conformance with 

the salient characteristics of this CID and other contractual requirements, and documenting the 

findings on official SCI Division score sheets and/or certificates. In addition, when required in 

the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, SCI Division inspectors will examine the instant tea 

mixes for conformance to the U.S. Standards for 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.

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12. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 10.4 is specified in the solicitation, 

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

condition of samples of instant tea mixes 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). When USDA analytical testing is specified, 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 services.

13.1.1 USDA certification. For a USDA certification contact the Associate Director, 

Inspection Operations, SCI Division, FV, 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.

13.1.2 USDA FDSS, Plant Survey, and PSA. For a USDA FDSS, Plant Survey, and PSA

contact the Chief, Auditing Services Branch, Inspection Operations, SCI Division, FV, 

AMS, USDA, Room 1536 South Building, STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-0240, telephone (202) 720-5021, fax (202) 260-8927, or via E-mail: 

fvaudits@ams.usda.gov.

13.1.1 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.

13.2 Sources of documents.

13.2.1 Sources of information for nongovernmental documents are 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.

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Copies of the Food Chemicals Codex and U.S. Pharmacopeia may be purchased from: United 

States Pharmacopeia Convention, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20877, 

telephone (800) 227-8772 or (301) 881-0666, Fax (301) 816-8148 or on the Internet at: 

http://www.usp.org. 

13.2.2 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 Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security 

Preventive Measures Guidance is available online from: FDA, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) on the Internet at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation

/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm.

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

available from or provided to: Chief, Standardization Branch, USDA, AMS, FV, SCI 

Division, Riverside Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 

22406, telephone (540) 361-1130, Fax (540) 361-1199, via E-mail: CIDS@ams.usda.gov or 

on the Internet at: www.ams.usda.gov/CommercialItemDescription.

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 Fax (215) 737-2963, or via Email: dscpsubsweb@dla.mil.

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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Custodians DOJ - BOP

HHS - FDA

Army - GL USDA - FV

Navy - SA VA - OSS

Air Force - 35

DLA - SS

Review Activities PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Army - MD, QM DLA - SS

Navy - MC

(Project No. 8955-2014-001)

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).

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