"Butter" means the food product usually known as butter,
which is made exclusively from milk or cream, or both, with or
without common salt, and with or without additional coloring
matter, and containing not less than 80 percent by weight of
milkfat, all tolerances having been allowed for.
The U .S. grade of butter is determined on the basis of
classifying first the flavor characteristics, and then the
characteristics in body, color, and salt. Flavor is the basic
quality factor in grading butter, and is determined
organoleptically by taste and smell. The flavor characteristic
is identified and, together with its relative intensity, is rated
according to the applicable classification. When more than one
flavor characteristic is discernible in a sample of butter, the
flavor cl-assification of the sample shall be established on the
basis of'the flavor that carries the lowest rating. Body, color, and salt characteristics are then noted, and
any defects are disrated in accordance with the established
classification, subject to disratings for body, color, and salt;
when the disratings for body, color, and salt exceed the
permitted amount for any flavor classification, the final U .S. grade
shall be lowered accordingly.
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