RAW MATERIAL SOURCE
Farm-raised, grain-fed catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Raw material shall be free of all off odors/flavors, and possess characteristic color and texture for the species. All pre-harvest drugs utilized during grow out of the product shall be FDA approved, low regulatory priority aquaculture products, and used in accordance with proper withdrawal times and other label conditions. Product shall not possess residual drug/chemical levels above acceptable FDA levels. Product shall be free of parasites. Raw material fillets shall not be injected or vacuum tumbled with any chemicals or processing aids.

INGREDIENT STATEMENT
Farm-raised catfish, battered with: enriched wheat flour (*wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), leavening (sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum phosphate), salt and sodium alginate. Breaded with: enriched yellow corn meal (yellow corn meal, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, leavening (sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum phosphate), and spice.
*Contains: WHEAT

BATTER/BREADING PERCENTAGE
The raw material fillets shall be subjected to a single batter and breading pass. Total maximum pickup shall be 25%, as per 50CFR 264.321(f).

DEFECT CRITERIA
Product is checked for defects as stated in 50 CFR 267.101-107.

PORTION CONTROL
Stated portion range ± ½ oz. Acceptable portion control range for Code # 500 is 2.5oz.-3.5 oz. A minimum of 90% by count of the fillets in each case shall conform to the specified size range.

MICROBIOLOGICAL STANDARDS

1. Total Aerobic Plate Count < 200,000/g
2. Total Coliforms < 500/g MPN
3. E. coli < 10/g MPN
4. Staphylococcus aureus (coag +) < 9.1/g MPN
5. Salmonella Negative in all samples

PACKAGING AND LABELING REQUIREMENTS
1. Product shall be packed in a poly lined Master case. Poly liner shall be at least 1.25 mil thick.
2. Master case shall be a preprinted, brown, staple-free container with a minimum bursting strength of 250#.
3. Case labels and printing shall conform to standards set forth by SouthFresh Quality Assurance.
4. Production date coding system shall consist of a six-digit code. The first and fourth digits shall identify the month, and the second and third digits shall represent the day. The fifth code represents the last digit of the year. And, the sixth digit represents the period in which the product was packed. Examples are:

010132 - January 10, 2003; 2nd period
018633 - June 18, 2003; 3rd period
123134 - November 23, 2003; 4th period

5. Production code date, and product identification label, shall appear on all Master cases.
6. Product shall be maintained at or below 10°F during the distribution process.
7. Product shall pass through properly functioning metal detection equipment during processing.

SHELF LIFE
(0°F or less) 180 days