Grades of Canned Tomato Puree (Tomato Pulp)
- U.S. Grade A is the quality of tomato puree 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 is the quality of tomato puree 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 puree 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). Look in the Processed Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Products section on Care and Use Guides.
Inspection Aid
- Headspace gauge
- Inspection Aid 91 Tomato Paste Puree Comparison Chart (pdf)
- Instructions for Use and Care of the Visual Color Standards Statement (pdf)
Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources:
- U.S. Grade Standards for Canned Tomato Puree (Tomato Pulp) (pdf)
- 21 CFR § 155.190 - Canned tomatoes
- 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
- Domestic Origin Verification (DOV) Program Manual
- FDA Food Defect Action Levels
- Foreign Material Manual
- General Procedures Manual
- Safety Manual
- Sampling Manual
- Sanitation Manual
- SC-364-73 Score Sheet for Canned Tomato Paste and Tomato Puree
- Technical Procedures Manual
- USDA Purchases Manual
- U.S. Standards for Determination of Fill Weights
- U.S. Standards for Inspection by Variables
- Determination of Consistency of Tomato Products (pdf)
- 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)
- FDA Macroanalytical Procedures Manual
- Tomato Products Spectrophotometer Studies (pdf)