Federal Orange Juice Standard Updated

A proposed change that's been in the works for nearly a year is now official. Federal regulators have finalized an update to the standard for pasteurized orange juice, changing a rule that has been in place for more than 60 years.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule lowering the minimum Brix level, a measurement of natural sugar content, from 10.5 to 10. The rule updates a federal standard first established in 1963 and finalizes a proposal the FDA released last year.

Federal officials say the updated standard is intended to better reflect today's growing conditions while maintaining the safety, quality and taste consumers expect from 100% orange juice. The rule also allows processors greater flexibility by reducing the need to blend in higher-Brix imported juice to meet the previous federal requirement.

The change applies nationwide, including California, where growers produce oranges for both the fresh market and juice. Federal officials say the updated standard is part of a broader effort to review decades-old food standards to ensure they remain relevant to today's food supply.