Orange Juice Sugar Cuts Proposed By FDA To Help Citrus Growers: What It Means For You
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to revise a long-standing regulation on orange juice, a move that industry experts believe will help American citrus farmers without altering the familiar taste of the drink, Fox News reports.
For the first time since 1963, the FDA is recommending lowering the minimum sugar requirement for pasteurized orange juice.
The proposal, unveiled on August 6, would adjust the mandated Brix level — a measure of dissolved solids, primarily natural sugars — from 10.5% to 10%. According to the agency, this matches the natural sugar levels currently found in U.S. oranges and equals about one gram less sugar per 8-ounce serving, reducing from 18 grams to 17 grams.
The effort follows a 2022 petition submitted by the Florida Citrus Processors Association and Florida Citrus Mutual, which noted that Florida oranges averaged a Brix level of 9.7 during the 2022–23 season.
Back in 1963, when the existing rule was adopted, Florida oranges averaged a much higher 11.8 Brix.
In recent years, citrus greening disease and extreme weather have driven Brix levels down, compelling juice makers to mix in sweeter imported juice from Mexico and Brazil to satisfy federal requirements, the FDA explained.
“For years, we’ve been wasting beautiful American oranges simply due to an outdated regulation, while relying on a high volume of imports,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement.
By lowering the threshold, the agency estimates producers could cut reliance on foreign juice and save more than $50 million annually.
The FDA emphasized that growers could continue producing juice with higher Brix levels if their fruit allows.
Uncle Matt’s Organic, a Florida-based company that sells organic juices, lemonades, and teas, said it will not be lowering its Brix.
“Uncle Matt’s Organic orange juice contains no added sugar,” co-founder Susan McLean told Fox News Digital. “The naturally occurring sugar content comes directly from the fruit itself, and our Brix is consistently above 11.8, which is well above the minimum threshold.”
Still, the company endorsed the FDA’s proposed change.
“The update will allow struggling growers to market their fruit more effectively without compromising transparency or food safety,” McLean said.
The adjustment is part of the FDA’s broader review of over 250 Standards of Identity (SOIs) — federally defined rules that specify what foods must contain and, in some cases, how they must be produced in order to bear a particular label.
“The agency is working to ensure its rules are science-based, relevant and responsive to today’s food supply and consumer needs,” the FDA said in its statement.
The proposed rule is open to public feedback until November 4, and the FDA is also asking whether it should consider dropping the Brix level further.
Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, welcomed the development, saying the organization has long backed an update but does not support doing away with standards altogether.
“We support science-based updates that reflect current growing conditions, while protecting Florida oranges, our growers and the future of Florida orange juice,” Shepp told Fox News Digital.
“These standards are created in a spirit of honesty, so that consumers know exactly what they are getting from properly labeled products.”
Food scientist Bryan Quoc Le, author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered, said the difference in sugar levels will have little effect on orange juice overall.
“There may be very minor changes in flavor profile, fiber content and other components that come along with orange juice, but ultimately this will not be particularly noticeable from either a health or an industry standpoint,” he said.
Dr. Michael Ednie, a Florida physician and registered dietitian, agreed the impact on health would be negligible.
“Orange juice has been criticized for its sugar content because drinking lots of sugary beverages – including fruit juices – can increase risks of health problems, like diabetes and tooth decay,” Ednie told Fox News Digital.
He added that current dietary recommendations already advise consuming fruit juice in moderation.
“So, the main message for public health stays the same: Orange juice is best enjoyed in reasonable amounts as part of a balanced diet.”
{Matzav.com}