7 CFR 42.114 - Procedures for evaluating interior container defects.

View all text of Subpart B [§ 42.103 - § 42.114]

§ 42.114 - Procedures for evaluating interior container defects.

(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]