Commodity Requirements MC9.pdf

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

MC9

MACARONI AND CHEESE

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: 08/12/09

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

MC9

MACARONI AND CHEESE

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES _____________________________________________________ 1

Section 1.2 WARRANTY ________________________________________________________ 1

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE ______________________________________________ 1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS ______________________ 1

Section 2.1 GENERAL __________________________________________________________ 1

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING_________________________________________ 1

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS _____________________________________ 2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION ______________________________________________________ 2

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Pasta Specifications

(1) All wheat shall be tested for vomitoxin in accordance with procedures approved by Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). Any wheat testing higher than 2 parts per million (p.p.m.) shall not be used in production of the commodity. The final product shall not contain more than 1 p.p.m. of vomitoxin.

(2) The commodities delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in the Macaroni and Cheese Mix, Dry, Sauce Color A, Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-20308A (April 10, 2009) available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3007487, except that only semolina flour shall be used.

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The product shall have a shelf life of at least one year from date of manufacturer.

Product shall not be manufactured more than 60 days prior to shipping.

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. The contractor shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to ensure that the product meets the commodity specifications. The results shall be evidenced by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) maintained by the contractor.

B. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet contract requirements.

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials requirements used under this contract.

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall certify at the time of submission of an offer that the commercial product being delivered has a history of successful distribution and use in domestic commercial channels and is sold on the commercial market with an established level of consumer acceptance.

B. Container and packaging requirements are those used in the current commercial shipping practices and shall comply with:

MC8 Page 1 http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3007487

(1) Unitization requirements in Section 2.4.

(2) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” may be printed on the principal display panel of the food label.

(3) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number shall be shown on the commercial bill of lading.

(4) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe stacking height. It is the responsibility of the contractor in cooperation with the shipping container manufacturers to determine the safe stacking height.

(5) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses, all commercial-labeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR USDA FOOD DISTRIBUTION

PROGRAMS.”

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS

A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe contact with the packaged product. The contractor shall obtain and maintain documentation from the container or packaging material manufacturer to verify that the containers and packaging materials used in this contract were in compliance with the Government’s regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as required in the Master Solicitation, Part 3, Section A, Number 3.

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to:

USDA/FSA/DACO

Room 5755 – South Bldg, STOP 0551 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20250-0551 ATTN: Packaging

C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from a foreign country and/or the package and container is manufactured in a foreign country, the package and container SHALL NOT display country of origin labeling. Phrases similar to but not inclusive of, “Made in [Name of Foreign Country.]” or “Product of [Name of Foreign Country.]” are strictly prohibited.

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements:

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of packaged products shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped).

B. Pallets shall be:

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the packaged product, as a unit, without loss or damage.

(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken runners or slats.

(3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products.

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be:

(1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a minimum of 50 percent beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet load.

(2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized shipping containers. The shipping containers shall be held firmly in place by the stretch wrap.

D. Pallet loads shall be:

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping containers overhang the edges of pallets.

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a manner that prevents shifting during transit.