80 FR 50262 - United States Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 160 (August 19, 2015)
Agricultural Marketing Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 160 (August 19, 2015)
| Page Range | 50262-50263 | |
| FR Document | 2015-20445 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 50262-50263] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-20445] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 160 / Wednesday, August 19, 2015 / Notices [[Page 50262]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Document Number AMS-FV-14-0016, FV-14-326] United States Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans. AMS is proposing to replace process- specific language ``Product description'' in the standard with language reflective of current canned baked bean manufacturing practices. Additionally, AMS proposes separating the canned dried beans, canned pork and beans, and canned baked beans grade standards from one shared standard document into three separate standard documents. These changes would bring the grade standards for canned baked beans in line with the present quality levels being marketed today and would provide guidance in the effective use of these products. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 19, 2015. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted via the Internet: http://www.regulations.gov; by email [email protected]; or by mail to Brian E. Griffin, Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 0709, South Building; STOP 0247, Washington, DC 20250; fax: (202) 690- 1527. Copies of the proposed revised United States Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans are available at the addresses cited above and at the AMS Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/scihome. All comments should reference the document number, date, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments will be posted without change, including any personal information provided. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be included in the public record and will be made available to the public on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov. Comments will be made available for public inspection at the above address during regular business hours or can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Brian E. Griffin at the address above, phone (202) 720-5021, or fax (202) 690-1527. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AMS is proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans using the procedures that appear in part 36 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices.'' AMS is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards available upon request. The U.S. standards for grades of fruits and vegetables that are not connected with Federal marketing orders or U.S. import requirements no longer appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, but are maintained by USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program, and are available on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/scihome. Background: In September 2013, AMS received a petition from a professor emeritus in food science from Michigan State University asking AMS to consider revising the current U.S. grade standards for canned baked beans to account for advances in industry processing technology. The petitioner requested the removal of the following text from the text of the Product description: ``The product is prepared by washing, soaking, and baking by the application of dry heat in open or loosely covered containers in a closed oven at atmospheric pressure for sufficient prolonged time to produce a typical texture and flavor'' and replacing it with the following text, ``The product is prepared by heating beans and sauce in a closed or open container for a period of time sufficient to provide texture, flavor, color and consistency attributes that are typical for this product.'' AMS believes the text ``washing, soaking'' needs to be retained and proposes the following revision to the text of the Product description: ``The product is prepared by washing, soaking, and heating beans and sauce in a closed or open container for a period of time sufficient to provide texture, flavor, color, and consistency attributes that are typical for this product.'' A copy of the petitioner's request and supporting documentation is located on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov along with the current U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans together with the revisions proposed in this notice. The proposed revisions to these grade standards would provide a common language for trade and better reflect the current marketing of canned baked beans. Additional proposed changes to the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans include separating the canned dried beans grade standards, canned pork and beans grade standards, and the canned baked beans grade standards into individual standard documents. These grade standards are currently recognized as three individual standards, but are contained in one document. No changes to content are recommended at this time for the canned dried beans or canned pork and beans grade standards. In December 2013, AMS developed a discussion draft of the revised canned baked bean grade standards that included the proposed changes. This draft was distributed to the U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC), a trade association representing U.S. growers, shippers, processors, packagers, and canners of dry beans; and to the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), a trade association of the food industry. Members of the USDBC and GMA [[Page 50263]] reviewed the discussion draft. Responding members supported the proposed changes to the Product description, and the proposed change to separate the canned dried beans, canned pork and beans, and the canned baked beans grade standards into the documents. Additionally, AMS submitted the discussion draft to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for guidance on the proposed changes. The FDA expressed concern over the removal of the term ``baking'' from the process while continuing to use the term ``baked'' as part of the name of the food. The FDA did not object to a name that appropriately describes the food as per the regulations in 21 CFR 101.3. AMS discussed further FDA's concerns with the petitioner. A second discussion draft was developed and submitted to the FDA and received a positive response. The second discussion draft was then submitted to the aforementioned industry groups for a second round of comments. Both groups responded positively to the changes. The proposed revised text for Section 52.6461 Product description reads as follows: ``The product is prepared by washing, soaking, and baking beans and sauce through the application of heat in a closed or open container for a period of time sufficient to provide texture, flavor, color, and consistency attributes that are typical for this product.'' Agricultural Marketing Service AMS is soliciting comments on the proposed revision of the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans. In particular, AMS would welcome comments and information regarding the possible impact on processors and growers. Further details are provided in the petition and are available from Brian E. Griffin at the previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section or can be found on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested parties to comment on the proposed revision of the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Baked Beans. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627. Dated: August 13, 2015. Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2015-20445 Filed 8-18-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
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Notices Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 160
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER Canned Baked Beans are available at the description: ‘‘The product is prepared
contains documents other than rules or addresses cited above and at the AMS by washing, soaking, and baking by the
proposed rules that are applicable to the Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/ application of dry heat in open or
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, scihome. All comments should loosely covered containers in a closed
committee meetings, agency decisions and reference the document number, date, oven at atmospheric pressure for
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
and page number of this issue of the sufficient prolonged time to produce a
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are Federal Register. All comments will be typical texture and flavor’’ and
examples of documents appearing in this posted without change, including any replacing it with the following text,
section. personal information provided. All ‘‘The product is prepared by heating
comments submitted in response to this beans and sauce in a closed or open
notice will be included in the public container for a period of time sufficient
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE record and will be made available to the to provide texture, flavor, color and
public on the Internet via http:// consistency attributes that are typical
Agricultural Marketing Service www.regulations.gov. Comments will be for this product.’’
made available for public inspection at AMS believes the text ‘‘washing,
[Document Number AMS–FV–14–0016, FV–
14–326]
the above address during regular soaking’’ needs to be retained and
business hours or can be viewed at: proposes the following revision to the
United States Standards for Grades of http://www.regulations.gov. text of the Product description: ‘‘The
Canned Baked Beans FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: product is prepared by washing,
Contact Brian E. Griffin at the address soaking, and heating beans and sauce in
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, above, phone (202) 720–5021, or fax a closed or open container for a period
USDA. (202) 690–1527. of time sufficient to provide texture,
ACTION: Notice and request for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AMS is flavor, color, and consistency attributes
comments. proposing to revise the U.S. Standards that are typical for this product.’’
for Grades of Canned Baked Beans using A copy of the petitioner’s request and
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing supporting documentation is located on
the procedures that appear in part 36 of
Service (AMS) of the Department of the Internet at http://
Title 7 of the Code of Federal
Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise www.regulations.gov along with the
Regulations (7 CFR part 36). Section
the United States Standards for Grades current U.S. Standards for Grades of
203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act
of Canned Baked Beans. AMS is Canned Baked Beans together with the
of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), as
proposing to replace process-specific revisions proposed in this notice. The
amended, directs and authorizes the
language ‘‘Product description’’ in the proposed revisions to these grade
Secretary of Agriculture ‘‘to develop and
standard with language reflective of standards would provide a common
improve standards of quality, condition,
current canned baked bean language for trade and better reflect the
quantity, grade, and packaging, and
manufacturing practices. Additionally, current marketing of canned baked
recommend and demonstrate such
AMS proposes separating the canned beans.
standards in order to encourage
dried beans, canned pork and beans, Additional proposed changes to the
uniformity and consistency in
and canned baked beans grade U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned
commercial practices.’’ AMS is
standards from one shared standard Baked Beans include separating the
committed to carrying out this authority
document into three separate standard canned dried beans grade standards,
in a manner that facilitates the
documents. These changes would bring canned pork and beans grade standards,
marketing of agricultural commodities
the grade standards for canned baked and the canned baked beans grade
and makes copies of official standards
beans in line with the present quality standards into individual standard
available upon request. The U.S.
levels being marketed today and would documents. These grade standards are
standards for grades of fruits and
provide guidance in the effective use of currently recognized as three individual
vegetables that are not connected with
these products. standards, but are contained in one
Federal marketing orders or U.S. import
DATES: Comments must be submitted on requirements no longer appear in the document. No changes to content are
or before October 19, 2015. Code of Federal Regulations, but are recommended at this time for the
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be maintained by USDA, AMS, Fruit and canned dried beans or canned pork and
submitted via the Internet: http:// Vegetable Program, and are available on beans grade standards.
www.regulations.gov; by email the Internet at: http:// In December 2013, AMS developed a
brian.griffin@ams.usda.gov; or by mail www.ams.usda.gov/scihome. discussion draft of the revised canned
to Brian E. Griffin, Standardization Background: In September 2013, AMS baked bean grade standards that
Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection received a petition from a professor included the proposed changes. This
Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, emeritus in food science from Michigan draft was distributed to the U.S. Dry
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. State University asking AMS to consider Bean Council (USDBC), a trade
Department of Agriculture, 1400 revising the current U.S. grade association representing U.S. growers,
Independence Avenue SW., Room 0709, standards for canned baked beans to shippers, processors, packagers, and
South Building; STOP 0247, account for advances in industry canners of dry beans; and to the Grocery
Washington, DC 20250; fax: (202) 690– processing technology. The petitioner Manufacturers Association (GMA), a
1527. Copies of the proposed revised requested the removal of the following trade association of the food industry.
United States Standards for Grades of text from the text of the Product Members of the USDBC and GMA
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 160 / Wednesday, August 19, 2015 / Notices 50263
reviewed the discussion draft. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Docket: For access to background
Responding members supported the documents or to comments received, go
proposed changes to the Product Food Safety and Inspection Service to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots
description, and the proposed change to [Docket No. FSIS–2015–0033] Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 164–
separate the canned dried beans, canned A, Washington, DC 20250–3700
pork and beans, and the canned baked Availability of Updated FSIS Food between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
beans grade standards into the Standards and Labeling Policy Book Monday through Friday.
documents. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection
Daniel L. Engeljohn, Ph.D., Assistant
Additionally, AMS submitted the Service, USDA.
Administrator, Office of Policy and
discussion draft to the U.S. Food and ACTION: Notice of availability and Program Development; Telephone: (202)
Drug Administration (FDA) for guidance opportunity for comment. 205–0495, or by Fax: (202) 720–2025.
on the proposed changes. The FDA
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
expressed concern over the removal of
the term ‘‘baking’’ from the process Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing Background
the Agency’s intent to revise the Food
while continuing to use the term FSIS is responsible for ensuring that
Standards and Labeling Policy Book.
‘‘baked’’ as part of the name of the food. the Nation’s commercial supply of meat
The Agency has stopped adding policy
The FDA did not object to a name that and poultry is safe, wholesome, and
guidance to it; however, FSIS will
appropriately describes the food as per continue to amend or remove items in properly labeled and packaged.
the regulations in 21 CFR 101.3. the book, as necessary, to remain On November 7, 2013, FSIS published
AMS discussed further FDA’s consistent with Agency policies and the final rule ‘‘Prior Label Approval
concerns with the petitioner. A second regulations. The revised Food Standards Systems: Generic Label Approval.’’ This
discussion draft was developed and and Labeling Policy Book will provide final rule amended the meat and poultry
submitted to the FDA and received a updated information for establishments products inspection regulations to
positive response. The second to use when creating new labels and expand the circumstances under which
when modifying existing labels for meat labels of meat and poultry products
discussion draft was then submitted to
and poultry products. would be deemed to be generically
the aforementioned industry groups for
approved by the Agency (78 FR 66826).
a second round of comments. Both DATES: Submit comments on or before
Effective January 6, 2014, FSIS
groups responded positively to the October 19, 2015. regulations (9 CFR 412.1(c)) require only
changes. ADDRESSES: A downloadable version of four categories of labels to be submitted
The proposed revised text for Section the Food Standards and Labeling Policy to the Labeling and Program Delivery
52.6461 Product description reads as Book is available for viewing and Staff (LPDS) for approval. One category
follows: ‘‘The product is prepared by printing at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ requiring the submission of labels is
washing, soaking, and baking beans and wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory- special statements and claims (9 CFR
sauce through the application of heat in compliance/labeling/Labeling-Policies. 412.1(c)(3)), as described in 9 CFR
a closed or open container for a period No hard copies have been published. 412.1(e). Under this paragraph, special
FSIS invites interested persons to statements and claims that are defined
of time sufficient to provide texture,
submit comments on this notice. in FSIS’s regulations or in its Food
flavor, color, and consistency attributes
Comments may be submitted by one of Standards and Labeling Policy Book,
that are typical for this product.’’ the following methods: except for ‘‘natural’’ and negative
Agricultural Marketing Service Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web claims, and that comply with those
site provides the ability to type short regulations and policies, are deemed to
AMS is soliciting comments on the comments directly into the comment be approved by the Agency without
proposed revision of the U.S. Standards field on this Web page or attach a file being submitted for evaluation and
for Grades of Canned Baked Beans. In for lengthier comments. Go to http:// approval.
particular, AMS would welcome www.regulations.gov/. Follow the on- Comments that FSIS had received in
comments and information regarding line instructions at that site for response to the December 5, 2011,
the possible impact on processors and submitting comments. proposal (76 FR 75809) that preceded
growers. Further details are provided in Mail, including CD–ROMs: Send to the final rule asked the Agency to
the petition and are available from Brian Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of update its Food Standards and Labeling
E. Griffin at the previously mentioned Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Policy Book. In response to these
address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 comments, FSIS decided to stop adding
CONTACT section or can be found on the Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop new policy guidance to the book but to
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 3782, Room 8–163B, Washington, DC continue to amend or remove items in
This notice provides for a 60-day 20250–3700. the book, as necessary.
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: FSIS has revised the ‘‘Chicken Cordon
comment period for interested parties to
Deliver to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street Bleu’’ entry in response to a petition
comment on the proposed revision of
SW., Room 8–163A, Washington, DC submitted to the Agency and removed
the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned 20250–3700.
Baked Beans. the entry for ‘‘Ham, Smithfield’’ to
Instructions: All items submitted by
ensure consistency with the regulations
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. mail or electronic mail must include the
on the use of geographic terminology on
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Agency name and docket number FSIS–
Dated: August 13, 2015. labeling (9 CFR 317.8(b)(1). FSIS
2015–0033. Comments received in
Rex A. Barnes, announced these changes in its
response to this docket will be made
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Constituent Update.1 This calendar year
available for public inspection and
Marketing Service. posted without change, including any 1 See http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/
[FR Doc. 2015–20445 Filed 8–18–15; 8:45 am] personal information, to http:// newsroom/meetings/newsletters/constituent-
BILLING CODE P www.regulations.gov. Continued
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 11:59:00
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 11:59:00
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments must be submitted on or before October 19, 2015. | |
| Contact | Contact Brian E. Griffin at the | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 50262 |
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