The FDA Might Change “The Rules” for Orange Juice and Other Foods

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Food News! 

The FDA, the agency that makes sure our food is safe and honest, announced they’re planning to update some old rules about how foods are labeled and made. They want to remove or change standards for over 50 food products, including things like jam, canned fruits, and even orange juice.

So, what’s a standard of identity?
Basically, it’s a rule that says exactly what a food has to contain to be called that thing. For example, the rules used to say jam had to have at least 45% fruit and 55% sugar. This keeps companies honest and makes sure we get what we expect when we buy certain foods.

What’s changing?
If these rules get dropped, companies might have more freedom to make foods however they want, which could mean less fruit or more sugar in products like jam.

And orange juice?
The big news is about orange juice. The rule that says orange juice has to have at least 10.5% sugar (measured by Brix) might be lowered to 10%. The reason? Florida’s citrus crops are struggling because of a disease called citrus greening, which means the oranges are smaller and less sweet. The Florida growers asked the FDA for this change so they can still make good juice without relying on imported oranges. The FDA says this change probably won’t affect how orange juice tastes or its nutrients.

Will this affect other foods?
Yes. The FDA is also thinking about changing rules for canned fruits and veggies, dairy products like cheese and ice cream, baked goods, and more. They say these old rules sometimes make it harder for companies to innovate or offer healthier options.

What’s the takeaway?
The FDA’s goal is to update outdated rules to help food companies be more flexible and to give us better choices. So, in the future, your orange juice might be a little different, but it should still taste good.

SOURCE: Food & Wine