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
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 § 155.191 - Tomato concentrates
- A-478 Solids Determination
- A-445 Determining Lot Compliance for Declaring Natural Tomato Soluble Solids (NTSS)
- AOAC Official Method 936.13 Specific Gravity of Comminuted Tomato Products
- AOAC Official Method 945.75 Extraneous Materials (Foreign Matter) in Products
- AOAC Official Method 955.46 Filth in Tomato Products
- AOAC Official Method 965.41 Mold in Tomato Products
- AOAC Official Method 970.59 Solids (Soluble) in Tomato Products: Refractive Index Method
- AOAC Official Method 984.29 Howard Mold Counting Procedures
- AOAC Official Method 985.26 Solids (Total) in Tomato Products: Microwave Oven Drying Method
- 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)
- Tomato Products Spectrophotometer Studies (pdf)