QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON GOVERNMENT INSPECTION 15 



the United States grades, and to state such other requirements as the 

 kind and size of container, and the size, type, style, variety, and color 

 of the commodity. In addition to the requirements for the product 

 itself, information is necessary with respect to terms of sale, routing, 

 labels, and swell allowances. The following statement, designed to 

 avoid disputes on delivery, is now used in contracts negotiated by 

 some sales agencies: 



In the event that dispute should arise as to quality, the seller agrees to 

 furnish, without expense to the buyer, an official inspection certificate of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture in substantiation of grade of delivery- 



HOW IS LABELING RELATED TO UNITED STATES 

 STANDARDS AND INSPECTIONS? 



Labeling in terms of quality on the basis of United States standards 

 and inspection is one of the ways in which the standardization and 

 inspection program of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 benefits the consumer. After products are processed, particularly 

 canned foods, they are generally stored without labels. When the 

 packer receives an order to ship the goods, he may apply his own 

 packer's label or he may apply a distributor's private label to the foods. 

 The Department believes it is in the interest of a "square deal" for 

 the housewife that she be permitted to choose the quality she desires. 

 The Department believes that simple quality terms — tied to definitely 

 established and written requirements for that quality — will make her 

 choice easier when she markets. 



What quality terms does the Department advocate? 



The Department has adopted the simple terms of A, B, C which are 

 easily remembered. The steps between these grades indicate degrees 

 of quality value. Clear-cut names of this kind afford a valuable 

 guide to the housewife in making purchases, for she can readily select 

 a commodity of a known, not hidden, quality for the price she is 

 able to pay and for the purpose she wishes to use it. 



How do the A, B, C grade names compare with commercial quality 

 terms? 



The common commercial quality terms for canned foods (Fancy, 

 Choice, Standard) are used synonymously with Grade A, Grade B, 

 or Grade C by the Department, so that buyers and sellers who wish 

 to use them may do so. Consumers, however, are not too familiar 

 with the trade nomenclature. Nevertheless, the Department does 

 not advocate the use of the Grades A, B, C to the exclusion of com- 

 mercial terms which are not misleading. 



How may Grade A foods be utilized to best advantage? 



Grade A processed products are first-rate foods, carefully selected 

 as to size, color, and ripeness or tenderness. Because of their fine 

 appearance they are best suited for special dishes, fancy desserts, and 

 for combinations such as fruit salads. It would not be good economy, 

 for example, to use for an escalloped dish. Grade A tomatoes that are 

 red ripe, practically free from skin and blemishes, and whole in shape. 

 A lower grade would serve the same purpose. 



