AMSC N/A FSC 8930 

 A-A-20348A 

 November 30, 2011 

 SUPERSEDING 

 A-A 20348 

 NOVEMBER 1, 2005 

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION 

FRUIT BUTTERS 

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

 the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID). 

1. SCOPE. This CID covers fruit butters, 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) and flavor(s) of fruit butters required (Sec. 3). 

 - When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 6.1). 

 - When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 6.2). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 9.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 9.4). 

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following: 

 - Food Defense Section 9.1: Food Defense System Survey (FDSS) (Sec. 9.1.1), or Food 

Defense Addendum to Plant Systems Audit (PSA) (Sec. 9.1.2), or (Sec. 9.1.2 with 9.2.1). 

 - Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 9.2 with 9.2.1) or (Sec. 9.2 with 9.2.2). 

 - Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 10). 

3. CLASSIFICATION. The fruit butters shall conform to the following list which shall be 

specified in the solicitation, contract or purchase order.

Types and flavors. 

Type I - Regular 

Type II - No Sugar Added (21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §101.60(c)(2)) 

Flavor A - Apple 

Flavor B - Apricot 

METRIC 
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Flavor C - Grape 

Flavor D - Peach

Flavor E - Pear 

Flavor F - Plum 

Flavor G - Prune

Flavor H - Quince 

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

products shall meet the requirements of the: 

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 5). 

 - Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 6). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 7). 

 - Regulatory requirements (Sec. 8). 

 - Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 9). 

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

5. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS. 

5.1 Standard of Identity. The fruit butters shall conform to the Standard of Identity for Fruit 

Butter, 21 CFR Part § 150.110.

5.2 Processing. The fruit butters shall be prepared in accordance with current good 

manufacturing practices (21 CFR Part 110). 

5.3 Food Security. The fruit butters should be processed and transported in accordance to the 

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

and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance. 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/Foo

dDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm083075.htm. 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 preproduction raw materials, other ingredients and postproduction finished product. 

5.4 Ingredients. The fruit butters shall include a mixture of one or a permitted combination of 

the optional fruit ingredients specified in 21 CFR § 150.110 (b), and may include nutritive 

carbohydrate sweeteners, spices, flavoring (other than artificial flavoring), salt, acidifying agents, 

fruit juice or diluted fruit juice or concentrated fruit juice, preservatives, pectin, and antifoaming 

agents (except those derived from animal fats). Non-nutritive sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, 
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acesulfame-K, sucralose, stevia, etc.) are not permitted. Added flavoring shall represent the fruit 

in the fruit butter. 

5.5 Finished product.

5.5.1 Appearance. The fruit butters shall have a glossy, uniform color characteristic of the type 

or types of fruit ingredients. 

5.5.2 Odor and flavor. The fruit butters shall impart a sweet and fruity odor and flavor 

characteristic of the type of fruit or fruits used. The fruit butters shall have no foreign odors or 

flavors such as, but not limited to, stale, yeasty, burnt, musty, rancid, fermented, or moldy. 

5.5.3 Texture. The fruit butters shall be thick, fine grained, smooth and easily spreadable. 

5.5.4 U.S. Standards for Grade. Type I Regular, Flavor A - Apple shall be graded and 

certified by AMS, USDA as U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy in accordance with the United States 

Standards for Grades of Apple Butter. 

6. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS. 

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

purchase order, the analytical requirements for the finished product shall be as follows: 

6.1.1 pH. The pH of the fruit butters shall not be less than 3.5 and not greater than 4.2. 

6.1.2 Soluble solids. The soluble solids of the fruit butters shall not be less than 43.0° Brix. 

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

shall be made in accordance with the following methods from the Official Methods of Analysis 

of the AOAC International. 

Test Method

 Soluble solids 932.12 

 pH 981.12 

6.3 Test results. The test results for pH shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 value and soluble 

solids results to the nearest 0.1° Brix. Any result not conforming to the analytical requirements 

shall be cause for rejection of the lot. 

7. MANUFACTURER'S/DISTRIBUTOR'S PRODUCT ASSURANCE. The manufacturer/ 

distributor shall certify that the fruit butters provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this 
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CID, conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be the 

same fruit butters offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to 

require proof of conformance. 

8. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered fruit butters shall comply with all 

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

preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of fruit butters within the 

commercial marketplace. Delivered fruit butters shall comply with all applicable provisions of 

the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act; and regulations 

promulgated thereunder. 

9. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 9.3 or 9.4; purchaser 

may specify 9.1 with 9.1.1, or 9.1 with 9.1.2, or 9.2 with 9.2.1, or 9.2 with 9.2.2.

9.1 Food Defense. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a Food 

Defense System Survey (FDSS) shall be conducted by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS), Processed Products Division (PPD). 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.

9.1.1 FDSS. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS shall be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, PPD. 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 12.1. and 12.3.2. 

9.1.2 Food Defense Addendum to Plant Systems Audit (PSA). When required in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a Food Defense addendum shall be conducted by 

USDA, AMS, PPD 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 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 12.1. and 12.3.2. 

9.2 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 
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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. 

9.2.1 Plant systems audit. A plant systems audit (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. The AMS PSA determines 

the manufacturer’s ability to produce under this CID, if the products of interest are identified at 

the time of the PSA.) (Perform with Food Defense Addendum when required.)

9.2.2 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.) 

9.3 Manufacturer's/distributor's certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the fruit butters distributed meets or 

exceeds the requirements of this CID. 

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

product quality, acceptability or both be determined, the PPD, Fruit and Vegetable Programs 

(FV), AMS, USDA, shall be the certifying program. PPD inspectors shall certify the quality and 

acceptability of the fruit butters in accordance with PPD procedures which include: selecting 

random samples of the packaged fruit butters, evaluating the samples for conformance with the 

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

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

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, PPD inspectors will examine the fruit butters for 

conformance to the United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers in effect on the 

date of the solicitation. 

10. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking shall be 

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

11. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 9.4 is specified in the solicitation, 

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

condition of samples of packaged fruit butters, and compliance with requirements in the 

following areas: 
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 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 5).

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

(Sec. 6.1). When USDA analytical testing is specified, PPD inspection personnel shall 

select samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology Program (S&TP) 

laboratory for analysis. 

 - Packaging requirements (Sec.10 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order). 

12. REFERENCE NOTES. 

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

Plant Survey, PSA, and FDSS contact the Head, Inspection Section, PPD, FV, AMS, USDA, 

STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0247, telephone (202) 

720-4693, Fax (202) 690-1527, or via E-mail: albert.hoover@ams.usda.gov or 

chere.shorter@ams.usda.gov. 

12.2 Analytical testing and technical information. For USDA technical information on 

analytical testing, contact the Chief, Technical Service Staff, S&TP, AMS, USDA, STOP 

0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0272, telephone (202) 690-

0621, or via E-mail: shirleyj.wright@ams.usda.gov

12.3 Sources of documents. 

12.3.1 Source of information for nongovernmental document is as follows: 

Copies of the Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC International may be obtained from: 

AOAC International, 481 North Fredrick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-

2417, telephone (301) 924-7077, (800) 379-2622, or on the Internet at: http://www.aoac.org. 

12.3.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows: 

Applicable provisions of 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 or on the Internet at: 

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

nts/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm083075.htm. 

Copies of the United States Standards for Grades for processed fruits are available from: 

Director, PPD, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-0247, telephone (202) 720-4693, Fax (202) 690-1527or on the 

Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/processedinspection. 

Copies of this CID and the United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers are 

available from: Director, PPD, FV, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-0247, telephone (202)720-9939, Fax (202) 690-1527, via Email: FQAStaff@ams.usda.gov or on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FQAS. 

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

which may improve this document should be sent to: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop 

Support, ATTN: DSCP-FTSA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092, Fax 

(215) 737-2963, or via E-mail: dscpsubsweb@dla.mil. 

Military activities should submit requests for copies of this CID to: Standardization 

Documents Order Desk, DLA Document Services, 700 Robbins Avenue, Building 4D, 

Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094 or on the Internet at: https://assist.daps.dla.mil or 

https://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/. 
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MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES: 

Custodians DOJ - BOP 

 HHS - NIH, IHS, FDA 

 Army - GL USDA - FV 

 Navy - SA VA - OSS 

 Air Force - 35 

 PREPARING ACTIVITY: 

Review Activities 

 DLA - SS 

 Army - MD, QM 

 Navy - MC (Project No. 8930-2011-002) 

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.daps.dla.mil. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis 

of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental 

status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an 

individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call tollfree at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-

6136 (Spanish Federal- relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.