USDA Modernizes Grade Standards for Canned Tomato Products: Enhancing Clarity and Market Alignment
On May 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced a significant overhaul of its U.S. grade standards for seven distinct canned tomato products, with the revisions becoming effective on June 12, 2026. This final notice marks a pivotal move to modernize long-standing federal guidelines, ensuring they align with contemporary industry practices, technological capabilities, and consumer understanding. The revisions impact essential products like tomato ketchup, sauce, juice, paste, puree, and canned whole tomatoes, reflecting AMS's ongoing commitment to fostering uniformity and consistency in commercial agricultural practices.
Modernizing Quality Assessment
The core objective behind these revisions is to update and clarify how the quality of canned tomato products is assessed and communicated. Under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), AMS continually reviews and refines its standards. A primary focus of these updates is the modernization of color evaluation methods. The previous standards referenced Munsell color discs, an outdated system that is no longer in common use. The revised standards will now direct users to the USDA color chip information (A1, A2, C1, and C2) and provide guidance on their use. This information is accessible via the AMS website, replacing specific, outdated supplier addresses. This change ensures that color assessment is based on current, readily available tools.
Streamlining Terminology and Nomenclature
A key revision addresses the simplification of grading nomenclature. Historically, some older grade standards employed a dual-nomenclature system, such as "U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy," "U.S. Grade B or U.S. Extra Standard," and "U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard." To achieve greater consistency across all fruit and vegetable grade standards and to align with more recently developed guidelines, AMS is phasing out the secondary terms like "U.S. Fancy" and "U.S. Extra Standard." Moving forward, only the single-term designations, such as "U.S. Grade A," "U.S. Grade B," and "U.S. Grade C," will be used exclusively. This modification simplifies the language for both industry professionals and consumers, making the grading system more intuitive and uniform.
The "Ketchup" Standard and Other Specific Adjustments
Perhaps the most visible change for the everyday consumer, and one that garnered positive public feedback, is the official transition from "catsup" to the more widely recognized "ketchup" in the relevant grade standard. This adjustment aligns federal terminology with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) standard of identity and prevalent commercial usage. Beyond this, AMS is incorporating other specific revisions for individual products. For canned tomatoes, a new "Table II Low Individual Drained Weights" is being added to section 52.5170. This table provides clear guidelines for individual drained weights allowed for each quality level and container size. Furthermore, editorial changes, including the reintroduction of previously removed section headings, are being made across several standards to improve clarity and organization.
Industry Engagement and Resolution of Concerns
AMS engaged with stakeholders, providing a 60-day period for interested persons to submit comments on the proposed changes. Two anonymous comments were received, both expressing support for the shift from "catsup" to "ketchup" and the removal of dual nomenclature. Commenters highlighted improved consumer clarity and consistency within the food industry as benefits. One commenter also raised questions regarding the potential impact on export or import requirements and implementation costs for small and midsize producers. AMS clarified that these U.S. standards are voluntary and independent of international standards, thus not affecting export or import requirements. Furthermore, the agency stated that the revisions are not expected to impose significant implementation costs on producers, as they primarily involve updating outdated information or presenting existing data more clearly, such as the new drained weight table. These revisions are deemed crucial for providing a common language for trade and better reflecting the current marketing of fruits and vegetables.
