The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has amended the U.S. Standards for Grades of Orange Juice by adjusting the Grade B Brix allowances for pasteurized orange juice.
The revision brings the grade standards in line with the Food and Drug Administration's Standard of Identity (SOI) for pasteurized orange juice. Because the Brix criteria used in the U.S. orange juice grade standards are tied to the FDA's SOI, AMS noted that any update to the SOI requires corresponding changes to the grading standards to avoid inconsistencies.
The interim final notice was published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2025, and the updated standards took effect immediately. Public comments will be accepted until January 20, 2026, through www.regulations.gov.
AMS collaborates with industry groups and other stakeholders to develop and update U.S. grade standards for a wide range of agricultural products. The standards serve as a uniform reference point for trade and provide a basis for measuring product quality in commercial transactions.
For more information:
USDA
Tel: +1 202 720 2791
Email: [email protected]
www.ams.usda.gov
