In response to a 2021 Florida citrus industry petition, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed reducing the minimum Brix of pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. Brix is a measurement of sugar content.
The FDA established a standard of identity (SOI) for pasteurized OJ in 1963 to protect the interests of consumers and reflect their expectations for OJ. That standard set requirements for ingredients, manufacturing, juice content specifications and labeling, as well as a minimum Brix level of 10.5%.
However, the Brix level for Florida oranges has been steadily declining over the past few decades due to severe weather and HLB, making it challenging to meet the minimum Brix. To meet FDA’s current requirements, some manufacturers have imported high-Brix OJ.
The FDA expects that lowering the minimum Brix from 10.5% to 10% is unlikely to affect the taste of OJ and will have a minimal impact on the nutrients found in orange juice.
There are 90 days to submit a public comment to FDA’s proposal.
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and the Florida Citrus Processors Association (FCPA) petitioned the FDA to update OJ’s SOI to reflect current Brix levels. Both organizations applauded FDA’s proposed rule.
“Florida’s citrus industry and its champions have tirelessly advocated for more than three years to modernize this Brix standard,” said Kevin Koppelman, FCM president.“Revising this regulation ensures we can maximize the state’s orange supply.”
FCM Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner called the FDA’s proposed rule “a major win for Florida citrus growers.” He said modernizing the regulation “gives growers the flexibility to bring more Florida-grown oranges to the orange juice market.”
“Changing the minimum Brix level for orange juice will modernize the standard to more accurately reflect the naturally occurring levels of the Florida oranges,” added Robin Bryant, executive director of FCPA. “This will allow our juice processors to more fully utilize the Florida orange crop and support the Florida citrus grower.”
View the FDA’s proposed rule (21 CFR Part 146) to update the standard of identity for Florida OJ.
Sources: FDA and FCM
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