[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR158.170]
[Page 486-489]
TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES (CONTINUED)
PART 158_FROZEN VEGETABLES--Table of Contents
Subpart B_Requirements for Specific Standardized Frozen Vegetables
Sec. 158.170 Frozen peas.
(a) Identity--(1) Product definition. Frozen peas is the food in
``package'' form as that term is defined in Sec. 1.20 of
[[Page 487]]
this chapter, prepared from the succulent seed of the pea plant of the
species Pisum sativum L. Any suitable variety of pea may be used. It is
blanched, drained, and preserved by freezing in such a way that the
range of temperature of maximum crystallization is passed quickly. The
freezing process shall not be regarded as complete until the product
temperature has reached -18 [deg]C (0 [deg]F) or lower at the thermal
center, after thermal stabilization. Such food may contain one, or any
combination of two or more, of the following safe and suitable optional
ingredients:
(i) Natural and artificial flavors.
(ii) Condiments such as spices and mint leaves.
(iii) Dry nutritive carbohydrate sweeteners.
(iv) Salt.
(v) Monosodium glutamate and other glutamic acid salts.
(2) Size specifications. If size graded, frozen peas shall contain
not less than 80 percent by weight of peas of the size declared or of
smaller sizes. The sample unit may not contain more than 20 percent by
weight of peas of the next two larger sizes, of which not more than one
quarter by weight of such peas may be of the larger of these two sizes,
and may contain no peas larger than the next two larger sizes, if such
there be. The following sizes and designations shall apply:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round hole sieve size through
which peas will pass
Size designation ----------------------------------
Millimeters Inch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra small.......................... Up to 7.5............... 0.295
Very small........................... Up to 8.2............... .32
Small................................ Up to 8.75.............. .34
Medium............................... Up to 10.2.............. .40
Large................................ Over 10.2............... .40
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Labeling. The name of the product is ``peas''. The term
``early'', ``June'', or ``early June'' shall precede or follow the name
in the case of smooth-skin or substantially smooth-skin peas, such as
Alaska-type peas. Where the peas are of sweet green wrinkled varieties,
the name may include the designation ``sweet'', ``green'', ``wrinkled'',
or any combination thereof. The label shall contain the words ``frozen''
or ``quick frozen''. The name of the food shall include a declaration of
any flavoring that characterizes the product as specified in Sec.
101.22 of this chapter and a declaration of any condiment such as spices
and mint leaves that characterizes the product, e.g., ``Spice added''.
Where a statement of pea size is made, such statement shall indicate
either the size designation as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this
section or the applicable sieve size. However, the optional descriptive
words ``petite'' or ``tiny'' may be used in conjunction with the product
name when an average of 80 percent or more of the peas will pass through
a circular opening of a diameter of 8.75 mm (0.34 in) or less for sweet
green wrinkled peas and 8.2 mm (0.32 in) for smooth-skin or
substantially smooth-skin peas, such as Alaska-type peas.
(4) 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.
(b) Quality. (1) The standard of quality for frozen peas is as
follows:
(i) Not more than 4 percent by weight blond peas, i.e., yellow or
white but edible peas;
(ii) Not more than 10 percent by weight blemished peas, i.e.,
slightly stained or spotted peas;
(iii) Not more than 2 percent by weight seriously blemished peas,
i.e., peas that are hard, shrivelled, spotted, discolored or otherwise
blemished to an extent that the appearance or eating quality is
seriously affected.
(iv) Not more than 15 percent by weight pea fragments, i.e.,
portions of peas, separated or individual cotyledons, crushed, partial
or broken cotyledons and loose skins, but excluding entire intact peas
with skins detached;
(v) Not more than 0.5 percent by weight, or more than 12 sq cm (2 sq
in) in area, extraneous vegetable material, i.e., vine or leaf or pod
material from the pea plant or other such material per sample unit as
defined in paragraph (b) of this section.
(vi) The sum of the pea material described in paragraphs (b)(1) (i),
(ii), (iii), and (iv) of this section shall not exceed 15 percent.
[[Page 488]]
(vii) For peas that meet the organoleptic and analytical
characteristics of sweet green wrinkled varieties:
(a) The alcohol-insoluble solids may not be more than 19 percent
based on the procedure set forth in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(b) Not more than 15 percent by count of the peas may sink in a
solution containing 16 percent salt by weight according to the brine
flotation test set forth in paragraph (b)(4) of this section;
(viii) For smooth-skin or substantially smooth-skin varieties the
alcohol insoluble solids may not be more than 23 percent based on the
procedure set forth in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(ix) The quality of a lot shall be considered acceptable when the
number of defectives does not exceed the acceptance number in the
sampling plans set forth in Sec. 158.3(f).
(2) The sample unit for determining compliance with the requirements
of paragraph (b)(1) of this section other than those of paragraphs
(b)(1)(vii)(a) and (b)(1)(viii) of this section, shall be 500 g (17.6
oz). For the determination of alcohol-insoluble solids as specified in
paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the container may be the sample unit.
(3) Alcohol-insoluble solids determination. (i) Extracting
solutions:
(a) One hundred parts of ethanol denatured with five parts of
methanol volume to volume (formula 3A denatured alcohol), or
(b) A mixture of 95 parts of formula 3A denatured alcohol and five
parts of isopropanol v/v.
(ii) Eighty percent alcohol (8 liters of extracting solutions,
specified in paragraph (b)(3)(i) (a) or (b) of this section, diluted to
9.5 liters with water).
(iii) Drying dish--a flat-bottom dish with a tight fitting cover.
(iv) Drying oven--a properly ventilated oven thermostatically
controlled at 1002 [deg]C.
(v) Procedure--Transfer frozen contents of package to plastic bag;
tie bag securely and immerse in water bath with continuous flow at room
temperature. Avoid agitation of bag during thawing by using clamps or
weights. When sample completely thaws, remove bag, blot off adhering
water, and transfer peas to U.S. No. 8 sieve, using (20 cm.) size for
container of less than 3 lb. net weight and (30.5 cm.) for larger
quantities. Without shifting peas, incline sieve to aid drainage, drain
2 minutes. With cloth wipe surplus water from lower screen surface.
Weigh 250 g. of peas into high-speed blender, add 250 g. of water and
blend to smooth paste. For less than 250 g. sample, use entire sample
with equal weight of water. Weight 20 g.10 mg. of
the paste into 250 ml. distillation flask, add 120 ml. of extracting
solutions specified in paragraph (b)(3)(i) (a) or (b) of this section,
and reflux 30 minutes on steam or water bath or hotplate. Fit into a
buchner funnel a filter paper of appropriate size (previously prepared
by drying in flatbottom dish for 2 hours in drying oven, covering,
cooling in desiccator, and weighing). Apply vacuum to buchner funnel and
transfer contents of beaker so as to avoid running over edge of paper.
Aspirate to dryness and wash material on filter with 80 percent alcohol
until washings are clear and colorless. Transfer paper and alcohol-
insoluble solids to drying dish used to prepare paper, dry uncovered for
2 hours in drying oven, cover, cool in desiccator, and weigh at once.
From this weight deduct weight of dish, cover, and paper. Calculate
percent by weight of alcohol-insoluble solids.
(4) Brine flotation test. (i) Explanation--The brine flotation test
utilizes salt solutions of various specific gravities to separate the
peas according to maturity. The brine solutions are based on the
percentage by weight of pure salt (NaCl) in solution at 20 [deg]C. In
making the test the brine solutions are standardized to the proper
specific gravity equivalent to the specified ``percent of salt solutions
at 20 [deg]C'' by using a salometer spindle accurately calibrated at 20
[deg]C. A 250 ml glass beaker or similar receptacle is filled with the
brine solution to a depth of approximately 50 mm. The brine solution and
sample (100 peas per container) must be at the same temperature and
should closely approximate 20 [deg]C.
(ii) Procedure--After carefully removing the skins from the peas,
place the peas into the solution. Pieces of peas and loose skins should
not be used
[[Page 489]]
in making the brine flotation test. If cotyledons divide, use both
cotyledons in the test and consider the two separated cotyledons as 1
pea; and, if an odd cotyledon sinks, consider it as one pea. Only peas
that sink to the bottom of the receptacle within 10 seconds after
immersion are counted as ``peas that sink''.
(5) If the quality of the frozen peas falls below the standard
prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the label shall bear the
general statement of substandard quality specified in the Code of
Federal Regulations but in lieu of the words prescribed in the second
line of the rectangle the following words may be used where the frozen
peas fall below the standard in only one respect: ``Below standard in
quality ------'', the blank to be filled in with the specific reason for
substandard quality as listed in the standard.
[42 FR 14461, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 42 FR 15673, Mar. 22, 1977;
58 FR 2883, Jan. 6, 1993]