Table IV-Metal Containers
[Rigid and semi-rigid]
Defects | Categories | ||
Critical | Major | Minor | |
Type or size of container or component parts not as specified | None permitted | ||
Closure incomplete, not located correctly or not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly: | |||
(a) Heat processed primary container | 1 | ||
(b) Non-heat processed primary container | 101 | ||
(c) Other than primary container | 201 | ||
Dirty, stained, or smeared container | 202 | ||
Key opening metal containers (when required): | |||
(a) Key missing | 102 | ||
(b) Key does not fit tab | 103 | ||
(c) Tab of opening band insufficient to provide accessibility to key | 104 | ||
(d) Improper scoring (band would not be removed in one continuous strip) | 105 | ||
Metal pop-top: | |||
(a) Missing or broken pull tab | 106 | ||
(b) Missing or incomplete score line (not conforming to a relevant product specification) | 107 | ||
Flexible pop-top: | |||
(a) Poor seal (wrinkle, entrapped matter, etc.) | 108 | ||
(b) Short pull tab (not conforming to a relevant product specification) | 203 | ||
(c) Missing pull tab | 109 | ||
(d) Torn pull tab | 204 | ||
Open top with plastic overcap (when required): | |||
(a) Plastic overcap missing | 110 | ||
(b) Plastic overcap warped (making opening or reapplication difficult) | 111 | ||
Outside tinplate or coating (when required): | |||
(a) Missing or incomplete | 205 | ||
(b) Blistered, flaked, sagged, or wrinkled | 206 | ||
(c) Scratched or scored | 207 | ||
(d) Fine cracks | 208 | ||
Rust (rust stain confined to the top or bottom double seam or rust that can be removed with a soft cloth is not scored a defect): | |||
(a) Rust stain | 209 | ||
(b) Pitted rust | 112 | ||
Wet cans (excluding refrigerated containers) | 210 | ||
Dent: | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 211 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 113 | ||
Buckle: | |||
(a) Not involving end seam | 212 | ||
(b) Extending into the end seam | 114 | ||
Collapsed container | 115 | ||
Paneled side materially affecting appearance but not usability | 213 | ||
Solder missing when required | 116 | ||
Cable cut exposing seam | 117 | ||
Improper side seam | 118 | ||
Swell, springer, or flipper (not applicable to gas or pressure packed product nor frozen products) | 2 | ||
Leaker or blown container | 3 | ||
Frozen products only: | |||
(a) Bulging ends 3/16-inch to 1/4-inch beyond lip | 214 | ||
(b) Bulging ends more than 1/4-inch beyond lip | 119 | ||
Metal drums: leaking filling seal (bung) swell1 | 4 | 120 |
1 Defect classification depends on the severity of the defect.
Table V-Composite Containers
[Fiberboard body with metal lids or metal bottoms, plastic or foil top with cap]
Defects | Categories | ||
Critical | Major | Minor | |
Type or size of container or component parts not as specified | None permitted | ||
Closure incomplete, not located correctly or not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly | 1 | ||
Dirty, stained, or smeared container | 201 | ||
Easy open closure: | |||
(a) Pull tab: | |||
1. Missing or broken pull tab | 101 | ||
2. Missing or incomplete score line | 102 | ||
(b) Membrane top: | |||
1. Poor seal (wrinkle, entrapped matter, etc.) | 103 | ||
2. Short pull tab | 104 | ||
3. Missing pull tab | 105 | ||
4. Torn pull tab | 106 | ||
(c) Open top with plastic overcap (when required): | |||
1. Plastic overcap missing | 107 | ||
2. Plastic overcap warped (making opening or reapplication difficult) | 108 | ||
Outside tinplate or coating on ends (when required): | |||
(a) Missing or incomplete | 202 | ||
(b) Blistered, flaked, sagged, or wrinkled | 203 | ||
(c) Scratched or scored | 204 | ||
(d) Fine cracks | 205 | ||
Collapsed container | 109 | ||
Paneled side materially affecting appearance but not usability | 206 | ||
Leaker | 2 | ||
Wet or damp: | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 207 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 110 | ||
Crushed or torn area: | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 208 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 111 |
Table VI-Glass Containers
[Bottles, Jars]
Defects | Categories | ||
Critical | Major | Minor | |
Type or size of container or component parts not as specified | None permitted | ||
Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly: | |||
(a) Heat processed | 1 | ||
(b) Non-heat processed | 101 | ||
Dirty, stained, or smeared container | 201 | ||
Chip in glass | 202 | ||
Stone (unmelted material) in glass | 203 | ||
Pits in surface of glass | 204 | ||
Sagging surface | 205 | ||
Bead (bubble within glass): | |||
(a) 1/8-inch to 1/16-inch in diameter | 206 | ||
(b) Exceeding 1/8-inch in diameter | 102 | ||
Checked | 103 | ||
Thin spot in glass | 104 | ||
Blister (structural defect) | 105 | ||
Bird swing (glass appendage inside container) | 2 | ||
Broken or leaking container | 3 | ||
Cap (nonheat processed): | |||
(a) Cross-threaded | 207 | ||
(b) Loose but not leaking | 208 | ||
(c) Pitted rust | 106 | ||
Cap (heat processed): | |||
(a) Cross-threaded or loose | 4 | ||
(b) Pitted rust | 107 | ||
Sealing tape or cello band (when required): | |||
(a) Improperly placed | 209 | ||
(b) Not covering juncture of cap and glass | 108 | ||
(c) Ends overlap by less than 1/2-inch | 109 | ||
(d) Loose or deteriorating | 110 | ||
Missing or torn outer safety seal | 111 | ||
Inner safety seal-missing, torn, poor seal | 112 |
Table VII-Plastic Containers
[Rigid and Semi-Rigid, Bottles, Jars, Tubs, Trays, Pails, etc.]
Defects | Categories | ||
Critical | Major | Minor | |
Type or size of container or component parts not as specified | None permitted | ||
Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly: | |||
(a) Heat processed | 1 | ||
(b) Non-heat processed | 101 | ||
Dirty, stained, or smeared container | 201 | ||
Chip in plastic | 202 | ||
Un-melted gels in plastic | 203 | ||
Pits in surface of plastic | 204 | ||
Sagging surface | 205 | ||
Air bubble within plastic: | |||
(a) 1/8-inch to 1/16-inch in diameter | 206 | ||
(b) Exceeding 1/8-inch in diameter | 102 | ||
Checked | 103 | ||
Thin spot in plastic | 104 | ||
Blister (structural defect) | 105 | ||
Broken or leaking container | 2 | ||
Cap (non-heat processed): | |||
(a) Cross-threaded | 207 | ||
(b) Loose but not leaking | 208 | ||
Cap (heat processed), cross-threaded or loose | 3 | ||
Security seals: | |||
(a) Closure ring missing | 106 | ||
(b) Missing or torn outer safety seal | 107 | ||
(c) Inner safety seal-missing, torn, or poor seal | 108 | ||
(d) Sealing tape or cello band (when required): | |||
1. Improperly placed | 209 | ||
2. Not covering juncture of cap and plastic | 109 | ||
3. Ends overlap by less than 1/2-inch | 110 | ||
4. Loose or deteriorating | 111 |
Table VIII-Rigid and Semi-Rigid Containers-Corrugated or Solid Fiberboard, Chipboard, Wood, Paperboard Aseptic Cartons, Polymeric Trays, etc.
[Excluding metal, glass, and plastic]
Defects | Categories | ||
Critical | Major | Minor | |
Type or size of container or component parts not as specified | None permitted | ||
Component part missing | 101 | ||
Closure not sealed, crimped, or fitted properly: | |||
(a) Primary container | 1 | ||
(b) Other than primary container | 201 | ||
Dirty, stained, or smeared container | 202 | ||
Wet or damp (excluding ice packs): | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 203 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 102 | ||
Moldy area | 2 | ||
Crushed or torn area: | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 204 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 103 | ||
Separation of lamination (corrugated fiberboard): | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 205 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 104 | ||
Product sifting or leaking | 105 | ||
Nails or staples (when required): | |||
(a) Not as required, insufficient number or improperly positioned | 206 | ||
(b) Nails or staples protruding | 106 | ||
Glue or adhesive (when required); not holding properly, not covering area specified, or not covering sufficient area to hold properly: | |||
(a) Primary container | 107 | ||
(b) Other than primary container | 207 | ||
Flap: | |||
(a) Projects beyond edge of container more than 1/4-inch | 208 | ||
(b) Does not meet properly, allowing space of more than 1/4-inch | 209 | ||
Sealing tape or strapping (when required): | |||
(a) Missing | 108 | ||
(b) Improperly placed or applied | 210 | ||
Missing component (straw, etc.) | 211 | ||
Paperboard Aseptic Cartons: | |||
(a) Missing re-sealable cap or tab | 109 | ||
(b) Inner or outer safety seal-missing, torn, poor seal | 3 | ||
Thermostabilized polymeric trays: | |||
Tray body: | |||
(a) Swollen container | 4 | ||
(b) Tear, crack, hole, abrasion through more than one layer of multi-layer laminate for the tray | 5 | ||
(c) Presence of delamination in multi-layered laminate | 212 | ||
(d) Presence of any permanent deformation, such that deformed area is discolored or roughened in texture | 213 | ||
Lid material: | |||
(a) Closure seal not continuous along tray flange surface | 6 | ||
(b) Foldover wrinkle in seal area extends into the closure seal such that the closure seal is reduced to less than 1/8-inch | 7 | ||
(c) Any impression or design on the seal surfaces which conceals or impairs visual detection of seal defects | 110 | ||
(d) Areas of "wave-like" striations or wrinkles along the seal area that spans the entire width of seal | 214 | ||
(e) Abrasion of lid material: | |||
1. Within 1/16-inch of food product edge of seal such that barrier layer is exposed | 8 | ||
2. Greater than 1/16-inch from food product edge of seal that barrier layer is exposed | 215 | ||
(f) Presence of entrapped matter within 1/16-inch of the food product edge of seal or entrapped moisture or vapor with 1/16-inch of the food product edge of seal that results in less than 1/16-inch of defect free seal width at the outside edge | 9 | ||
(g) Presence of any seal defect or anomaly (for example, entrapped moisture, gases, etc.) within 1/16-inch of food product edge of seal | 111 | ||
(h) Closure seal width less than 1/8-inch | 216 |
Table IX-Flexible Containers
[Plastic, Cellophane, Paper, Textile, Laminated Multi-Layer Pouch, Bag, etc.]
Defects | Categories | ||
Critical | Major | Minor | |
Type or size of container or component parts not as specified | None permitted | ||
Closure not sealed, crimped, stitched, or fitted properly: | |||
(a) Heat processed primary container | 1 | ||
(b) Non-heat processed primary container | 101 | ||
(c) Other than primary container | 201 | ||
Dirty, stained, or smeared container | 202 | ||
Unmelted gels in plastic | 203 | ||
Torn or cut container or abrasion (non-leaker): | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 204 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 102 | ||
Moldy area | 2 | ||
Individual packages sticking together or to shipping case (tear when separated) | 103 | ||
Not fully covering product | 104 | ||
Wet or damp (excluding ice packs): | |||
(a) Materially affecting appearance but not usability | 205 | ||
(b) Materially affecting usability | 105 | ||
Over wrap (when required): | |||
(a) Missing | 106 | ||
(b) Loose, not sealed, or closed | 206 | ||
(c) Improperly applied | 207 | ||
Sealing tape, strapping, or adhesives (when required): | |||
(a) Missing | 107 | ||
(b) Improperly placed, applied, torn, or wrinkled | 208 | ||
Tape over bottom and top closures (when required): | |||
(a) Not covering stitching | 108 | ||
(b) Torn (exposing stitching) | 109 | ||
(c) Wrinkled (exposing stitching) | 110 | ||
(d) Not adhering to bag: | |||
1. Exposing stitching | 111 | ||
2. Not exposing stitching | 209 | ||
(e) Improper placement | 210 | ||
Product sifting or leaking: | |||
(a) Non-heat processed | 112 | ||
(b) Heat processed | 3 | ||
Flexible pop-top: | |||
(a) Poor seal (wrinkle, entrapped matter, etc.) reducing intact seal to less than 1/16-inch | 4 | ||
(b) Short pull tab (materially affecting usability) | 212 | ||
(c) Missing pull tab | 113 | ||
(d) Torn pull tab (materially affecting usability) | 213 | ||
Missing component (straw, etc.) | 214 | ||
Two part container (poly lined box or bag in box): | |||
(a) Outer case torn | 215 | ||
(b) Poly liner: | |||
1. Missing | 5 | ||
2. Improper closure | 114 | ||
Missing "zip lock" (re-sealable containers) | 216 | ||
Loss of vacuum (in vacuum-packed) | 115 | ||
Pre-formed containers: | |||
(a) Dented or crushed area | 217 | ||
(b) Deformed container | 218 | ||
Missing re-sealable cap | 116 | ||
Inner or outer safety seal-missing, torn, poor seal | 6 | ||
Air bubble in plastic | 117 | ||
Thermostabilized products (includes but not limited to tubes, pouches, etc.): | |||
Foldover wrinkle in seal area (thermostabilized pouches): | |||
(a) Extends through all plies across seal area or reduces seal less than 1/16-inch | 7 | ||
(b) Does not extend through all plies and effective seal is 1/16-inch or greater | 219 | ||
Incomplete seal (thermostabilized pouches) | 8 | ||
Non-bonding seal (thermostabilized pouches) | 9 | ||
Laminate separation in body of pouch or in seal within 1/16-inch of food product edge: | |||
(a) If food contact layer is exposed | 10 | ||
(b) If food contact surface is exposed after manipulation or laminate separation expands after manipulation | 118 | ||
(c) If lamination separation is limited to isolated spots that do not propagate with manipulation or is outer ply separation in seal within 1/16-inch of food product edge of seal | 220 | ||
Flex cracks (cracks in foil layer only) | 221 | ||
Swollen container | 11 | ||
Blister (in seal) reducing intact seal to less than 1/16-inch | 12 | ||
Compressed seal (overheated to bubble or expose inner layer) reducing intact seal to less than 1/16-inch | 13 | ||
Stringy seal (excessive plastic threads showing at edge of seal area) | 222 | ||
Contaminated seal (entrapped matter) reducing intact seal to less than 1/16-inch | 14 | ||
Seal creep (product in pouch "creeping" into seal) reducing intact seal to less than 1/16 inch | 15 | ||
Misaligned or crooked seal reducing intact seal to less than 1/16-inch | 16 | ||
Seal formed greater than 1-inch from edge of pouch (unclosed edge flaps) | 223 | ||
Waffling (embossing on surface from retort racks; not scorable unless severe) | 224 | ||
Poor or missing tear notch (when required) | 225 |
Table X-Unitizing
[Plastic or other type of casing/unitizing]
Defects | Categories | |
Major | Minor | |
Not specified method | 101 | |
Missing tray (when required) | 102 | |
Missing shrink wrap (when required) | 103 | |
Loose or improperly applied wrap | 201 | |
Torn or mutilated | 202 | |
Off-center wrap (does not overlap both ends) | 203 |
7 C.F.R. §42.112