Food and Drug Admin Proposes Orange Juice Brix Rule Change

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FDA Publishes Proposed Rule Lowering Minimum Brix Content of Pasteurized Orange Juice

by: Food and Drug Law at Keller and Heckman of Keller and Heckman LLP - The Daily Intake

Thursday, August 7, 2025

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In response to a citizen petition filed by the Florida Citrus Processors Association Inc. and Florida Citrus Mutual Inc., FDA has issued a proposed rule (90 FR 37817) which would change the standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice in 21 CFR 146.140 by lowering the required minimum Brix content from 10.5° to 10° Brix. Brix represents the percent of soluble solids by weight of an aqueous solution (calibrated to a sucrose solution). Most of the total soluble solids in Florida oranges are sugars, and the proposed reduction in Brix corresponds to a reduction of 1 g of sugar per 8 oz serving (from 18 g to 17 g/serving).
The pasteurized orange juice standard of identity (SOI) was issued in 1963 when the average brix of Florida oranges was 11.8° and the SOI was constructed to reflect the qualities of U.S. oranges at the time. However, since 2010-11 the average brix of Florida oranges has been decreasing due to a bacterial disease called “citrus greening disease” (also known as Huanglongbing) and severe weather. In 2022-2023, the average Brix level of Florida oranges was only 9.7°.
In the proposed rule, FDA recognizes that the Brix level in orange juice is “subject to the vagaries of nature,” is outside of the manufacturers control, and that the SOI should be updated to encompass the qualities of present-day Florida oranges. The change would expand the lower bound of acceptable Brix and would not prohibit manufacturers from producing orange juice with higher Brix. FDA also states that the minor decrease in minimum Brix level is unlikely to affect the taste or flavor of the juice.
FDA invites comment on the proposed reduction in minimum Brix from 10.5° to 10°. It also requests comment on whether the minimum Brix level should be further lowered or whether the SOI for pasteurized orange juice should be dispensed of altogether to provide manufacturers with more flexibility. It notes that many juices, including apple juice are not standardized. Furthermore, it requests comment on whether the maximum percentage of citrus reticulata or citrus reticulata hybrids permitted in orange juice should be raised from its current 10% to 15%. Citrus reticulata has a higher sugar content, and therefore higher brix content, than citrus sinensis (scientific name for Florida oranges).
Any comments must be submitted by November 4, 2025, to Docket No. FDA-2022-P-1668 for “Food Standards of Identity Modernization; Pasteurized Orange Juice; Proposed Rule.”