The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a rule to lower the required sugar content in pasteurized orange juice. This change is expected to help Florida citrus growers who are struggling with declining yields due to disease and extreme weather.
Under the proposed rule, the minimum Brix level—a measure of soluble sugar content—in not-from-concentrate orange juice would be reduced from 10.5 percent to 10 percent. Supporters of the change, including U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, argue that this adjustment will not impact the taste or nutritional value of the juice, but will give growers more flexibility in facing industry challenges.
This FDA move aligns with provisions in Senator Moody’s “Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act,” which she introduced in April. The legislation seeks to update what she describes as an “arbitrary” and outdated standard that has placed American citrus growers at a disadvantage compared to foreign producers.
“In earlier statements, I promised our Florida orange growers that I would do everything possible to modernize standards and streamline regulations to protect their industry,” Moody said. “Our growers have faced numerous hardships in recent years, from devastating storms to citrus greening, and they can no longer bear the unnecessary and burdensome regulations that favor foreign growers.”
Moody attributed the proposed rule to months of advocacy in collaboration with federal officials, including FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and President Donald Trump.
If the rule is finalized, it is expected to help Florida growers better address production challenges, compete in the marketplace, and reduce reliance on imported citrus. The proposal will enter a 90-day public comment period before a final decision is made.
