(a) Sections 42.101-42.136 provide procedures for determining lot conformance with the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. This determination is based on the examination of the external characteristics of the food containers.
(b) As an option, if a user of the inspection service requests to have the interior characteristics of containers examined, and apply these results in the determination of lot acceptability, the defects listed in Table XII may be used.
(c) The determination of lot acceptability based on internal container defects shall be independent of the determination of lot acceptability for U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. A user of the inspection service may choose to require inspection for internal can defects as well as inspection for U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers.
(d) If a user of the inspection service requests an examination for internal container defects in addition to an official USDA/USDC inspection for product quality and/or U.S. grade, the containers opened by the official inspection service for inspection of product quality and/or U.S. grade will be used for examination of interior container defects. The minimum sample size for evaluation of interior container defects will be 13 containers. As a result, additional containers will be required if the inspection for quality or U.S. grade calls for fewer than 13 containers. Table XIII provides acceptance numbers for internal container defects for selected sample sizes.
Table XII—Interior Container Defects
| Defects | Categories | |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Minor | |
| De-tinning in metal container materially affecting usability | 101 | |
| De-tinning in metal container not materially affecting usability | 201 | |
| Black spots in metal container | 202 | |
| Enamel missing (when required) in metal container | 102 | |
| Enamel breakdown in metal container material affecting usability | 103 | |
| Enamel breakdown in metal container material not affecting usability | 203 | |
| Other defect(s) of the interior of the container (metal, plastic, paper, rigid, etc.) e.g., interior damage, tear, delamination, missing layer, off-odor, interior blisters, etc. that materially affects usability | 104 | |
| Defect(s) of the interior of the container (metal, plastic, paper, rigid, etc.) e.g., interior damage, tear, delamination, missing layer, off-odor, interior blisters, etc. that materially affects appearance but not usability | 204 | |
Table XIII—Acceptance Numbers for Internal Container Defects
| Sample Size (n = number of containers) | Major | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Defects | Interior Defects | |||
| Ac | Re | Ac | Re | |
| n—13 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| n—21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| n—29 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| n—38 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| n—48 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| n—60 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
[78 FR 57046, Sept. 17, 2013]
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