AMSC N/A FSC 8925

A-A-20175E

February 21, 2013

SUPERSEDING

A-A-20175D

December 14, 2011

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

CHEWING GUM

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

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers chewing gum, packed in commercially acceptable containers, 

suitable for use by Federal, State, local governments, and other interested parties; and as a 

component of operational rations.

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following:

- Type(s), size(s), style(s), flavor(s), and class(es) of chewing gum required (Sec. 3).

- When the age requirement at the time of delivery is other than specified (Sec. 5.3).

- 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 chewing gum shall conform to the following list which shall be 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

METRIC
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Types, sizes, styles, flavors, and classes.

Type I - Tablet

Size A - Miniature

Size B - Regular

Size C - Large

Type II - Stick

Type III - Slab

Type IV - Chunk

Type V - Center-Filled, square

Type VI - Center-Filled, round/oval

Type VII - Disk

Type VIII - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Class 1 - Regular

Class 2 - Sugar free (21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 101.60 (c))

Class 3 - With xylitol as primary sweetener (In accordance with Sec. 6.1.3)

Class 4 - With xylitol as single sweetener (In accordance with Sec. 6.1.4)

Flavor a - Peppermint

Flavor b - Spearmint

Flavor c - Cinnamon

Flavor d - Wintergreen

Flavor e - Fruit, as specified (e.g., cherry, grape, citrus, or mixed variety)

Flavor f - Bubble gum

Flavor g - Other (as specified by the purchaser)

Style (1) - Without caffeine

Style (2) - With caffeine (Applicable to Types I and VII)

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

products shall 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).
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5. PROCESSING GUIDELINES.

5.1 Processing. The chewing gum shall be prepared in accordance with Current Good 

Manufacturing Practices in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (21 CFR Part 

110). Style (2) chewing gum with caffeine, shall be prepared in accordance with Current Good 

Manufacturing Practices in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (21 CFR Part 110) 

or Current Good Manufacturing Practices in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding 

Operations for Dietary Supplements (21 CFR Part 111), as applicable. Style (2) chewing gum 

with caffeine, shall be labeled with a Nutrition Facts table if it is made as a food product and 

with a Supplement Facts table if it is made as a dietary supplement.

5.2 Food security. The chewing gum should 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.1 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.

5.3 Age requirement. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order, the chewing gum shall be processed and packaged not more than 90 days prior to delivery 

to the purchaser. Age requirements for Department of Defense (DoD) procurements shall be 

specified in the solicitation, contract or purchase order.

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

6.1 Ingredients.

6.1.1 Types I - VII, Class 1 Regular. The chewing gums shall contain: sucrose, dextrose, or 

corn syrup (singly or in combination), water-insoluble chewing gum base, softening and 

plasticizing ingredients, humectants, flavoring, and approved colorants (when applicable). The 

coating of Type I and VII (when applicable Type V and Type VI) may contain gum, gelatin, 

starch, flavoring, or other protective materials and colorants. The Type V and Type VI center 

filling shall contain flavored syrup to which color may be added. Style (2) shall also contain 

caffeine and may contain ingredients such as, but not limited to; vegetable fibers and nonnutritive sweeteners.

 1

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm083075.ht

m
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6.1.2 Types I - VII, Class 2 Sugar free. The chewing gums shall contain any of the following 

polyols singly or in combination: sorbitol, mannitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, and xylitol. In 

addition, the sugar free gums shall contain gum base, glycerin, softening and plasticizing 

ingredients, flavoring, artificial sweeteners, and approved colorants (when applicable). The 

coating of Type I and Type VII (when applicable Type V and Type VI) may contain gum, film 

formers, gum arabic, flavoring, colorants, and any one of the following polyols singly or in 

combination: sorbitol, mannitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, and xylitol. The Type V and Type VI 

center filling shall contain a flavored sugar free syrup to which color may be added. Style (2) 

shall also contain caffeine and may contain ingredients such as, but not limited to; vegetable 

fibers and non-nutritive sweeteners.

6.1.3 Types I - VII, Class 3 Xylitol as primary sweetener. The Type I and Type VII tablet 

center and Types II - VI chewing gum shall contain xylitol as the primary polyol sweetener. In 

addition, the gums shall contain gum base, glycerin, softening, and plasticizing ingredients, 

flavoring, and approved colorants (when applicable). Where applicable, the coating may contain 

gum, film formers, gum arabic, flavoring, colorants, and xylitol and any one of the following 

polyols singly or in combination: sorbitol, mannitol, isomalt, maltitol, and lactitol.

6.1.4 Type I, Class 4, Xylitol as single sweetener. The tablet center of the Type I chewing 

gum shall contain xylitol, gum base, flavoring, softening and plasticizing ingredients, and 

approved colorants (when applicable). The tablet coating may contain gum, film formers, gum 

arabic, flavoring, colorants, and xylitol. The gum may contain ingredients such as, but not 

limited to: soy lecithin, and titanium dioxide.

6.2 Finished product. The chewing gum shall be fresh and shall not be sticky, grainy, flabby, 

or stringy.

6.2.1 Type I. Each Size A tablet of chewing gum shall weigh not more than 0.15 g (0.0053 oz) 

per piece and the dimensions shall not exceed 0.76 cm (0.3 in) in length, 0.64 cm (0.25 in) in 

width, and 0.38 cm (0.15 in) in thickness. Each Size B tablet of chewing gum shall weigh 

between 1.1 - 1.6 g (0.04 - 0.06 oz) and the dimensions shall range between 1.4 - 2.5 cm (0.55 -

0.98 in) in length, 0.89 - 1.6 cm (0.35 - 0.63 in) in width and 0.4 - 0.9 cm (0.16 - 0.35 in) in 

thickness. Each Size C tablet of chewing gum shall weigh not less than 2.5 g (0.09 oz) and the 

dimensions shall not be less than 1.65 cm (0.65 in) in length, 1.30 cm (0.50 in) in width, and 0.38 

cm (0.15 in) in thickness.

6.2.2 Type II. Each stick of chewing gum shall weigh between 2.6 - 3.2 g (0.09 - 0.11 oz) and 

the dimensions shall not exceed 7.62 cm (3.00 in) in length, 2.22 cm (0.87 in) in width, and 0.24 

cm (0.09 in) in thickness. The Type II chewing gum shall not be brittle or hard.
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6.2.3 Type III. Each slab of chewing gum shall weigh between 1.7 - 2.2 g (0.06 - 0.08 oz) per 

piece and the dimensions shall not exceed 3.96 cm (1.56 in) in length, 1.35 cm (0.53 in) in width, 

and 0.46 cm (0.18 in) in thickness.

6.2.4 Type IV. Each chunk of chewing gum shall weigh between 3.0 - 8.1 g (0.11 - 0.29 oz) 

and the piece dimensions shall not exceed 2.79 cm (1.10 in) in length, 1.98 cm (0.78 in) in width, 

and 1.42 cm (0.56 in) in thickness.

6.2.5 Type V. Each piece of square, center-filled chewing gum shall weigh between 3.6 - 4.0 g 

(0.13 - 0.14 oz) and the dimensions shall not exceed 1.94 cm (0.76 in) by 1.94 cm (0.76 in), and 

1.23 cm (0.48 in) in thickness.

6.2.6 Type VI. Each piece of round/oval, center-filled chewing gum shall weigh between 

5.5 - 6.1 g (0.19 - 0.22 oz) and the dimensions shall not exceed 2.31 cm (0.91 in) by 1.50 cm 

(0.59 in).

6.2.7 Type VII. Each piece of disk shaped gum shall weigh between 2.5 - 3.7 g (0.09 - 0.13 oz) 

and the dimensions shall not exceed 2.17 cm (0.85 in) in diameter by 1.27 cm (0.50 in) in 

thickness.

6.2.8 Candy coating. The candy coating of coated chewing gums shall be applied by the hotor cold-pan method. The coating shall cover the centers completely and shall be free from pits, 

cracks, and the appearance of discoloration. A suitable glaze or polish may be used to finish the 

pieces.

6.2.9 Flavor. The flavor of the gum shall be in an amount sufficient to impart a characteristic 

taste sensation.

6.3 Foreign material. All ingredients shall be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from 

evidence of rodent or insect infestation.

7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS.

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

purchase order, the analytical requirements for the chewing gum shall be as follows:
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Table I. Water-insoluble base2

Type I NLT 13.0 percent3

Type II NLT 14.0 percent

Type III NLT 19.0 percent

Type IV NLT 18.0 percent

Type V and VI4 NLT 13.0 percent

Type VII NLT 11.0 percent

7.1.1 Caffeine content. The caffeine content of Style (2) chewing gum shall be not less than 80 

mg or not greater than 120 mg per manufacturers suggested serving.

7.1.2 Xylitol content. The xylitol content of two tablets of Class 3 and Class 4 chewing gum 

shall be not less than 1.7 g (0.06 oz) and not greater than 2.2 g (0.08 oz).

7.2 Product verification. When verification of the caffeine content of Style (2) gum is 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a manufacturer’s Certificate of Analysis

shall be submitted. When verification of the xylitol content is specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, a manufacturer’s Certificate of Analysis shall be submitted. When 

verification of water insoluble base is specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, 

the following procedures will be followed.

7.2.1 Sampling procedures. Five packages, sticks, chunks, or servings shall be selected at 

random from the lot.

7.2.2 Preparation of sample. Weigh the individual samples (a minimum of 2 tablets, 1 stick, 1 

slab, 1 chunk, or 1 piece). In the case of miniature tablets, a suitable single serving shall be 

approximated and weighed. Chew each sample vigorously for 10 minutes. Spread the chewed 

gum as evenly and thinly as possible on a previously dried and tared glass or metal plate or 

disposable aluminum weighing dish approximately 2 inches square.

7.2.3 Examination for water-insoluble base. Dry the sample at 100oC (212°F) in a vacuum 

oven at a pressure not more than 100 mm of mercury for at least 2 hours or in a gravity 

convection oven for at least 4 but not more than 5 hours. Cool in a desiccator, weigh, and 

calculate the percentage of water-insoluble base for each sample.

 2 Percent by weight 3 NLT = Not less than

4 Includes the liquid center
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Weight of water-insoluble gum base x 100

Original sample weight

7.3 Test results. The test result for water-insoluble base shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 

percent. Any result not conforming to the finished product requirements shall be cause for 

rejection of the lot.

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

distributor shall certify that the chewing gum provided shall meet the salient characteristics of 

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

the same chewing gum offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the 

right to require proof of conformance.

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered chewing gum shall comply with all

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

preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of chewing gum within the 

commercial marketplace. Delivered chewing gum shall 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 shall specify 10.3 or 10.4; 

purchaser may specify 10.1 with 10.1.1, or 10.1 with 10.1.2, or 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 shall

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

(FV), Specialty Crops Inspection Division (SCI). 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 shall 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 shall be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI. 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.”) For further information, see section 13.1 and 13.3.1.
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10.1.2 Food defense addendum to PSA. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, a Food Defense addendum shall be conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI

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 

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

Guidance.”) For further information, see section 13.1 and 13.3.1.

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

purchase order, the product manufacturer shall 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 

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.) (Perform with food defense addendum when 

required).

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 will certify that the finished chewing gum 

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, acceptability or both be determined, SCI, FV, AMS, USDA, shall be the 

certifying program. SCI inspectors shall certify the quality and acceptability of the chewing gum 

in accordance with SCI procedures which include selecting random samples of the chewing gum, 

evaluating the samples for conformance with the salient characteristic of this CID and other 

contractual requirements, and documenting the findings on official SCI score sheets and/or 

certificates. In addition, when required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, SCI
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inspectors will examine the chewing gum 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 shall be 

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

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

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

condition of the samples of chewing gum 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, SCI inspection personnel shall

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 contact, Plant Survey, PSA, and FDSS. For USDA certification, 

Plant Survey, PSA, and FDSS contact the Chief, Inspection Branch, SCI, FV, AMS, USDA, 

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 the Director, USDA, AMS, S&TP, Laboratory Division, 801 

Summit Crossing Place, Suite B, Gastonia, NC 28054, telephone (704) 867-3873, Fax (704) 

853-2800, or via E-mail: AMSLaboratoryDivision@ams.usda.gov.

13.3 Sources of documents.

13.3.1 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Applicable provisions of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers are contained 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 
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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 FDA’s Guidance for Industry: Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food 

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

Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) on the Internet at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocument

s/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm083075.htm.

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

are available from: Chief, Standardization Branch, SCI, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 0240, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, telephone (202) 720-5021, Fax 

(202) 690-1527, via E-mail: CIDS@ams.usda.gov, or on the Internet at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/CommercialItemDescription.

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

ASSIST Quick Search (https://assist.dla.mil/quicksearch) 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: DSCPFTSA, 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 - NIH, FDA

Army - GL USDA - FV

Navy - SA VA - OSS

Air Force - 35

DLA - SS PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Review Activities DLA - SS

Army - MD, QM

Navy - MC (Project No. 8925-2013-001)

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.

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.) 

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, 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.