Grades of Canned Tomato Paste
- U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy is the quality of tomato paste that:
- has a good flavor and odor,
- has a good color,
- is practically free from defects, and
- scores not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.
- U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard is the quality of tomato paste that:
- has at least a fairly good flavor and odor,
- has at least a fairly good color,
- is at least fairly free from defects, and
- scores not less than 80 points when scores in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.
- Substandard is the grade of tomato paste that fails to meet the requirements of U. S. Grade C.
Color Standards
Color Standards for Tomato Products.
Instructions for Use and Care of the Visual Color Standards for Tomato Products, including additional technical guidance is found in the Fresh and Processed Equipment Catalog (pdf).
Inspection Aid
- Headspace gauge
- Inspection Aid 23 Dilution Chart Concentrated Tomato Products (pdf)
- Inspection Aid No. 91 Tomato Paste Puree Comparison Chart (pdf)
- Instructions for Use and Care of the Visual Color Standards Statement (pdf)
See How to Purchase Visual Aids for more details.
Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources:
- U.S. Grade Standards for Canned Tomato Paste (pdf)
- 21 CFR § 155.191 - Tomato concentrates
- A-478 Solids Determination
- A-445 Determining Lot Compliance for Declaring Natural Tomato Soluble Solids (NTSS)
- AOAC Official Method 965.41 Mold in Tomato Products
- AOAC Official Method 984.29 Mold in Tomato Products
- AOAC Official Method 955.46 Filth in Tomato Products
- Certification Manual
- Condition of Container Manual
- Determination of Consistency of Tomato Products (pdf)
- Domestic Origin Verification (DOV) Program Manual
- FDA Macroanalytical Procedures Manual
- FDA Food Defect Action Levels
- Foreign Material Manual
- General Procedures Manual
- Methods of Analyses for Tomato Products Mold Count (pdf)
- Methods of Analyses for Tomato Products Solid Content Determinations (pdf)
- Methods of Analyses for Tomato Products Fly Egg and Maggot Determination (pdf)
- Methods of Analyses for Tomato Products Sand and Inorganic Residue Determination (pdf)
- Safety Manual
- Sampling Manual
- Sanitation Manual
- SC-364-73 Score Sheet for Canned Tomato Paste and Tomato Puree
- Technical Procedures Manual
- Tomato Products Spectrophotometer Studies (pdf)
- USDA Purchases Manual
- U.S. Standards for Determination of Fill Weights
- U.S. Standards for Inspection by Variables