FDA Slashes OJ Sugar Rules After 60 Years

The FDA proposes slashing orange juice sugar standards for the first time in over 60 years, delivering a massive victory for American citrus growers while striking a blow against foreign juice imports that have dominated our markets.

Story Highlights

FDA cuts minimum sugar content from 10.5% to 10% Brix level, first change since 1963
American growers save over $50 million annually while reducing dependence on Mexican and Brazilian imports
Florida citrus industry gets relief from disease-damaged crops that couldn’t meet outdated federal standards
Trump administration agencies frame initiative as “America First” policy supporting domestic agriculture

Regulatory Relief After Six Decades

The FDA announced on August 5, 2025, a proposed rule to lower the minimum Brix level in pasteurized orange juice from 10.5% to 10%. This marks the first major update to orange juice standards since 1963, when the original regulations were established based on Florida orange conditions that no longer exist. The 90-day public comment period represents a long-overdue recognition that federal bureaucracy has been strangling American agriculture with outdated requirements.

Disease and Weather Devastate American Citrus

Severe weather and citrus greening disease have systematically reduced natural sugar content in American oranges over decades, making it nearly impossible for domestic growers to meet the rigid 10.5% standard. Florida Citrus Mutual and Florida Citrus Processors Association petitioned the FDA in 2021-2022, presenting scientific data showing how environmental challenges have fundamentally altered crop characteristics. This forced producers to import sweeter juice from Mexico and Brazil for costly blending operations just to comply with federal mandates.

America First Approach Delivers Economic Victory

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins publicly celebrated the proposal as an “America First” initiative that will save manufacturers over $50 million annually. The rule change eliminates the need for expensive foreign juice imports, allowing domestic growers to compete fairly without artificial regulatory barriers. Experts confirm consumers will experience no noticeable change in taste or nutritional value, proving this was always about bureaucratic inflexibility rather than product quality.

FDA proposes way to cut sugar in orange juice without changing the taste https://t.co/1r1AQhJaif pic.twitter.com/3oNsD60FuX

— New York Post (@nypost) August 18, 2025

The proposed change represents part of the FDA’s broader effort to modernize over 250 food standards of identity, removing outdated barriers that have handicapped American producers. Industry groups unanimously support the proposal, recognizing it as essential for the survival and competitiveness of the domestic citrus sector. The rule aligns current regulations with agricultural realities, ensuring American farmers can thrive without dependence on foreign suppliers to meet arbitrary federal standards.