USDA Revises Grade Standards for Orange Juice

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the U.S. Standards for Grades of Orange Juice by changing the limits for Grade B Brix allowances in pasteurized orange juice.

The change aligns with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Standard of Identity (SOI) for Pasteurized Orange Juice. The Brix allowances under the U.S. Orange Juice Standards are based on FDA’s SOI requirements, and any changes to the requirements should result in a corresponding change to the U.S. Orange Juice Standards, said USDA. This alignment with the SOI will prevent any future discrepancies, the agency said.  

The interim final notice was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 18, with standards effective immediately. Comments are due by Jan. 20, 2026. To submit a comment, visit www.regulations.gov.

AMS works with industry representatives and others to establish or revise U.S. standards for nearly 240 agricultural products. Standards facilitate commerce by providing a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of agricultural products, said USDA.