NAICS 311422

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for classifying business establishments to collect, analyze, and publish data about the U.S. economy. Developed by the United States in coordination with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 and is reviewed on a five-year cycle; the current structure used for dissemination is the 2022 vintage. ²
Under NAICS 2022, NAICS 311422 (Specialty Canning) covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing canned specialty foods such as canned baby food, canned baked beans, canned soups (except seafood), canned spaghetti, and other canned nationality foods. Cross-references delineate boundaries with dairy, meat, seafood, fruit, and vegetable canning activities to ensure consistent statistical reporting. ¹

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 311422 overview
• G2X — NAICS 311421 (Fruit and Vegetable Canning)
• G2X — NAICS 311423 (Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing)

What this NAICS covers

• Canned baby food manufacturing (non-seafood). ¹
• Canned soups and stews (excluding seafood soups). ¹
• Canned baked beans and other bean-based specialties. ¹
• Canned spaghetti and similar canned pasta dishes. ¹
• Canned “nationality” or ethnic specialty meals (non-seafood). ¹
• Packaging of specialty canned foods produced in-house. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

The items below reflect closely related industry codes and common federal purchasing categories for products typically made under NAICS 311422.

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	311421	Fruit and Vegetable Canning
NAICS	311711	Seafood Canning
PSC	8935	Soups and Bouillons
PSC	8940	Special Dietary Foods and Food Specialty Preparations

Scope and boundary notes (official cross-references)

• Canned dairy products fall under NAICS 311514, not NAICS 311422. ¹
• Canned fruits, vegetables, and juices are classified in NAICS 311421. ¹
• Seafood soups and other canned seafood products are in NAICS 311711. ¹
• Canned meat products are classified within NAICS 31161. ¹
• Canned puddings and certain mixes are included in NAICS 311999. ¹

Small business size standard (SBA)

For federal contracting programs, the SBA size standard for NAICS 311422 is 1,400 employees (effective March 17, 2023). ³

Frequently asked questions

• What products are included in NAICS 311422?
  NAICS 311422 includes canned specialty foods such as canned baby food, canned baked beans, canned spaghetti, and canned soups other than seafood. These examples come from the official Census NAICS description. ¹

• How does NAICS 311422 differ from NAICS 311421?
  NAICS 311421 covers canned fruits, vegetables, and juices, while NAICS 311422 covers specialty canned foods such as baby foods and soups (non-seafood). The Census cross-references separate these activities. ¹

• Are seafood soups part of NAICS 311422?
  No. Seafood soups and other canned seafood items are classified in NAICS 311711 (Seafood Canning), not NAICS 311422. ¹

• What is the SBA small business size standard for this industry?
  The SBA size standard for NAICS 311422 is 1,400 employees, as listed in the SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards matched to NAICS. ³

• Which PSC codes commonly align to purchases of 311422-type products?
  Agencies often record purchases under PSC 8935 (Soups and Bouillons) for canned soups, PSC 8940 for infant foods and specialty preparations, and PSC 8915 for fruits/vegetables including baked beans. See the official PSC Manual for definitions. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 311422
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 31-33 definitions (includes NAICS 311422 description). ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. ²
• SBA — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 31-33 definitions (includes 311422 Specialty Canning). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
3. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf
4. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual, April 2025 (PSC definitions). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf