Procedures for evaluating interior container defects.

§ 42.114 Procedures for evaluating interior container defects. (a) Sections 42.101-42.136 provide procedures for determining lot conformance with the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. This determination is based on the examination of the external characteristics of the food containers. (b) As an option, if a user of the inspection service requests to have the interior characteristics of containers examined, and apply these results in the determination of lot acceptability, the defects listed in Table XII may be used. (c) The determination of lot acceptability based on internal container defects shall be independent of the determination of lot acceptability for U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. A user of the inspection service may choose to require inspection for internal can defects as well as inspection for U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers. (d) If a user of the inspection service requests an examination for internal container defects in addition to an official USDA/USDC inspection for product quality and/or U.S. grade, the containers opened by the official inspection service for inspection of product quality and/or U.S. grade will be used for examination of interior container defects. The minimum sample size for evaluation of interior container defects will be 13 containers. As a result, additional containers will be required if the inspection for quality or U.S. grade calls for fewer than 13 containers. Table XIII provides acceptance numbers for internal container defects for selected sample sizes. Table XII—Interior Container Defects Defects Categories Major Minor De-tinning in metal container materially affecting usability 101 De-tinning in metal container not materially affecting usability 201 Black spots in metal container 202 Enamel missing (when required) in metal container 102 Enamel breakdown in metal container material affecting usability 103 Enamel breakdown in metal container material not affecting usability 203 Other defect(s) of the interior of the container (metal, plastic, paper, rigid, etc.) e.g., interior damage, tear, delamination, missing layer, off-odor, interior blisters, etc. that materially affects usability 104 Defect(s) of the interior of the container (metal, plastic, paper, rigid, etc.) e.g., interior damage, tear, delamination, missing layer, off-odor, interior blisters, etc. that materially affects appearance but not usability 204 Table XIII—Acceptance Numbers for Internal Container Defects Sample Size (n = number of containers) Major Interior Defects Ac Re Total Interior Defects Ac Re n—13 0 1 2 3 n—21 1 2 3 4 n—29 1 2 4 5 n—38 2 3 5 6 n—48 2 3 6 7 n—60 2 3 7 8 [78 FR 57046, Sept. 17, 2013]