[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR137.105]

[Page 370-372]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                          SERVICES (CONTINUED)
 
PART 137--CEREAL FLOURS AND RELATED PRODUCTS--Table of Contents
 
  Subpart B--Requirements for Specific Standardized Cereal Flours and 
                            Related Products
 
Sec. 137.105  Flour.


    (a) Flour, white flour, wheat flour, plain flour, is the food 
prepared by grinding and bolting cleaned wheat, other than durum wheat 
and red durum wheat. To compensate for any natural deficiency of 
enzymes, malted wheat, malted wheat flour, malted barley flour, or any 
combination of two or more of these, may be used; but the quantity of 
malted barley flour so used is not more than 0.75 percent. Harmless 
preparations of -amylase obtained from Aspergillus oryzae, 
alone or in a safe and suitable carrier, may be used. When tested for 
granulation as prescribed in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, not less 
than 98 percent of the flour passes through a cloth having openings not 
larger than those of woven wire cloth designated ``212 m (No. 
70)'' complying with the specifications for such cloth set forth in 
``Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical 
Chemists'' (AOAC), 13th Ed. (1980), Table 1, ``Nominal Dimensions of 
Standard Test Sieves (U.S.A. Standard Series),'' under the heading 
``Definitions of Terms and Explanatory Notes,'' which is incorporated by 
reference. Copies may be obtained from the Association of Official 
Analytical Chemists International,

[[Page 371]]

481 North Frederick Ave, suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2504, or may 
be examined at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. The flour is freed from bran 
coat, or bran coat and germ, to such extent that the percent of ash 
therein, calculated to a moisture-free basis, is not more than the sum 
of 1/20 of the percent of protein therein, calculated to a moisture-free 
basis, plus 0.35. Its moisture content is not more than 15 percent. It 
may contain ascorbic acid in a quantity not to exceed 200 parts per 
million as a dough conditioner. Unless such addition conceals damage or 
inferiority or makes the flour appear to be better or of greater value 
than it is, one or any combination of two or more of the following 
optional bleaching ingredients may be added in a quantity not more than 
sufficient for bleaching or, in case such ingredient has an artificial 
aging effect, in a quantity not more than sufficient for bleaching and 
such artificial aging effect:
    (1) Oxides of nitrogen.
    (2) Chlorine.
    (3) Nitrosyl chloride.
    (4) Chlorine dioxide.
    (5) One part by weight of benzoyl peroxide mixed with not more than 
six parts by weight of one or any mixture of two or more of the 
following: potassium alum, calcium sulfate, magnesium carbonate, sodium 
aluminum sulfate, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, starch, 
calcium carbonate.
    (6) Acetone peroxides complying with the provisions of Sec. 172.802 
of this chapter.
    (7) Azodicarbonamide (complying with the requirements of 
Sec. 172.806 of this chapter, including the quantitative limit of not 
more than 45 parts per million).
    (b)(1) Label declaration. Each of the ingredients used in the food 
shall be declared on the label as required by the applicable sections of 
parts 101 and 130 of this chapter.
    (2) When ascorbic acid is added, the label shall bear the statement 
``Ascorbic acid added as a dough conditioner''. When the optional 
ingredient -amylase obtained from Aspergillus oryzae'' is used, 
it may alternatively be declared in the list of ingredients as ``Fungal 
alpha-amylase,'' ``Fungal -amylase'', ``Enzyme'', or ``Enzyme 
added for improved baking''. When any optional bleaching ingredient is 
used, the label shall bear the word ``Bleached''. Wherever the name of 
the food appears on the label so conspicuously as to be easily seen 
under customary conditions of purchase, the word ``Bleached'' shall 
immediately and conspicuously precede or follow such name, without 
intervening written, printed, or graphic matter; except that where such 
name is a part of a trademark or brand, other written, printed, or 
graphic matter, which is also a part of such trademark or brand, may so 
intervene if the word ``Bleached'' is in such juxtaposition with such 
trademark or brand as to be conspicuoulsy related to such name.
    (c) For the purposes of this section:
    (1) Ash is determined by the method prescribed in the AOAC, 13th Ed. 
(1980), section 14.006, ``Direct Method--Official Final Action,'' under 
the heading ``Ash (5),'' which is incorporated by reference. The 
availability of this incorporation by reference is given in paragraph 
(a) of this section. Ash is calculated to a moisture-free basis by 
subtracting the percent of moisture in the flour from 100, dividing the 
remainder into the percent of ash, and multiplying the quotient by 100.
    (2) Protein is 5.7 times the nitrogen as determined by the method 
prescribed in section 2.057, ``Improved Kjeldahl Methods for Nitrate-
Free Samples (20)--Official Final Action,'' AOAC, 13th Ed. (1980), which 
is incorporated by reference. The availability of this incorporation by 
reference is given in paragraph (a) of this section. Protein is 
calculated to a moisture-free basis by subtracting the percent of 
moisture in the flour from 100, dividing the remainder into the percent 
of protein, and multiplying the quotient by 100.
    (3) Moisture is determined by the method prescribed in the AOAC, 
13th Ed. (1980), sections 14.002 and 14.003, ``Vacuum Oven Method (2)--
Official Final Action,'' under the heading

[[Page 372]]

``Total Solids Moisture, Indirect Method,'' which is incorporated by 
reference. The availability of this incorporation by reference is given 
in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (4) Granulation is determined as follows: Use No. 70 sieve complying 
with the specifications for ``Nominal Dimensions of Standard Test Sieves 
(U.S.A. Standard Series)'' prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section. 
Attach bottom pan to sieve in Ro-Tap sifter (or an equivalent sifter). 
Place half of a rubber ball or other sieving aid in the sieve. Pour 100 
grams of the sample in the sieve and turn on the sifter with knocker. 
Sift exactly 5 minutes. Weigh the residue on the No. 70 sieve and 
convert to percentage.

[42 FR 14402, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 47 FR 11827, Mar. 19, 1982; 
47 FR 24693, June 8, 1982; 47 FR 43363, Oct. 1, 1982; 49 FR 10097, Mar. 
19, 1984; 54 FR 24894, June 12, 1989; 58 FR 2877, Jan. 6, 1993]