• On November 18, 2025, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an interim final rule (IFR) revising its grading standards for pasteurized orange juice to align with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed modernization of the standard of identity (SOI).
  • This action follows FDA’s August 2025 proposed rule to lower the minimum Brix requirement for pastuerized orange juice from 10.5 percent to 10 percent Brix, reflecting the naturally lower sugar content of Florida oranges due to citrus greening and severe weather conditions.  In a video created by FDA and USDA, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, emphasized the broader policy goals behind this change: “For years, we’ve been wasting beautiful American oranges simply due to an outdated regulation, while relying on a high volume of imports.”
  • As we have previously blogged, FDA’s proposed rule (90 FR 37817) recognizes that Brix levels are “subject to the vagaries of nature” and outside manufacturers’ control.
  • Accordingly, USDA removed its own minimum Brix values for Grade B pasteurized orange juice and now defers to FDA’s standard of identity, which FDA has proposed to lower from 10.5 percent to 10 percent Brix. This means grading will follow FDA’s updated approach rather than USDA’s previous fixed values.
  • USDA concluded that the revisions are non-controversial, well-supported by industry, and unlikely to draw adverse comments. Therefore, the changes are effective immediately, and AMS will later issue a final notice to confirm the revisions.
  • Keller & Heckman will continue to monitor developments related to Brix requirements and other food standards modernization efforts.