NAICS 311999

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System is the Federal standard for organizing business establishments so agencies can collect, analyze, and publish statistics on the U.S. economy. Developed under OMB by the ECPC with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997; the current structure used in Federal statistical programs reflects the 2022 vintage. ¹
U.S. industry 311999 covers firms primarily engaged in manufacturing food not classified in other specific food industries. It includes manufacturers that mix purchased dried or dehydrated ingredients (e.g., soup and bouillon mixes). It excludes animal food; grain and oilseed milling; sugar and confectionery; preserved fruits/vegetables; dairy; meat; seafood; bakeries/tortillas; snack foods; coffee/tea; flavoring syrups/concentrates; seasonings/dressings; and perishable prepared food. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 311999 overview
• 311991
• 311942

What this NAICS covers

• Baking powder manufacturing. ²
• Cake frosting and prepared frosting mixes manufacturing. ²
• Dessert puddings and gelatin dessert preparations manufacturing. ²
• Honey processing. ²
• Unpopped popcorn manufacturing. ²
• Powdered drink mixes (non-chocolate/coffee/tea/milk-based) manufacturing. ²
• Mixing purchased dried/dehydrated ingredients for soup mixes and bouillon. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	311991	Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (explicitly excluded from 311999 scope). 2
NAICS	311942	Spice and Extract Manufacturing (dry mixes; related cross-references with 311999). 2
PSC	8940	Special Dietary Foods and Food Specialty Preparations. 4
PSC	8990	Miscellaneous Food Items. 4

Key cross-references and exclusions

• Reducing maple sap to maple syrup is classified under 111998. ²
• Milling corn is classified under 311211. ²
• Wet milling corn to produce nonpotable ethyl alcohol is classified under 325193. ²
• Manufacturing laundry starches is classified under 325612. ²

Small business size standard (SBA)

For 311999, SBA’s small business size standard is 700 employees (effective March 17, 2023). ³

Frequently asked questions

• What kinds of products fall under 311999?
  Examples include baking powder, prepared frosting, dessert puddings, gelatin dessert preparations, honey processing, unpopped popcorn, certain powdered drink mixes, and dry soup or bouillon mixes made from purchased ingredients. These are generally shelf-stable specialty foods and dry preparations. ²

• How is 311999 different from 311991?
  311999 excludes perishable prepared foods, which are covered by 311991. NAICS 311999 generally includes shelf-stable specialty items and dry mixes, while 311991 covers refrigerated or otherwise perishable prepared foods. ²

• Are seasonings, dressings, or sauces included in 311999?
  No. Seasonings and extracts are classified under 311942, and dressings/sauces fall under 311941. These are excluded from 311999’s scope in the official cross-references. ²

• What is the SBA small business size standard for 311999 in federal contracting?
  SBA sets a 700-employee threshold for this industry; firms at or below this level may qualify as small for federal programs, subject to SBA rules and affiliation considerations. Effective March 17, 2023. ³

• Which PSCs commonly align to specialty food items?
  Subsistence PSCs frequently used in food buys include 8940 (special dietary/specialty preparations) and 8990 (miscellaneous food items), as listed in the official PSC Manual. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 311999 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 NAICS, Manufacturing sector details including 311999 (definition, examples, cross-references). ²
• U.S. Census Bureau: NAICS background and development (OMB adoption in 1997; NAICS overview). ¹
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Table of Small Business Size Standards (employee-based standards, including 311999). ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — 2017 NAICS Manual (official NAICS overview and history). https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2017/econ/2017-naics-manual.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS, Sectors 31–33 content including 311999 definition, examples, and cross-references. https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.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 (PSC) Manual (current). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual/all