Home / Health / Florida Citrus Growers Seek FDA Approval to Lower Orange Juice Sugar Standards
Florida Citrus Growers Seek FDA Approval to Lower Orange Juice Sugar Standards
5 Aug
Summary
- Florida citrus industry petitions FDA to lower minimum sugar content for "pasteurized orange juice"
- Experts debate whether orange juice is truly healthy due to high natural sugar levels
- Declining orange juice consumption in the U.S. poses problem for Florida's citrus producers
As of August 2025, the debate over the health benefits of orange juice continues to intensify. Florida's citrus industry has recently petitioned the FDA to lower the minimum sugar content required for "pasteurized orange juice," the type commonly sold in grocery stores without added sugars.
The industry argues that the sugar content of Florida's oranges has been steadily dropping due to a bacterial disease affecting the crop, exacerbated by Hurricane Irma in 2017. If the FDA does not approve the lower sugar threshold, they claim it could threaten their business and lead to more orange imports.
However, some nutrition experts have long been skeptical of orange juice's health claims. "Orange juice is sugar water," said Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina. "Every juice is essentially sugar water." The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents limit juice consumption for young children and instead encourage them to eat whole fruits.
Even though leading orange juice brands do not contain added sugars, the high levels of natural sugars can still be harmful, according to some experts. This has contributed to a decline in orange juice consumption among American consumers, who have gravitated toward other beverages seen as healthier alternatives.
The FDA's decision on the industry's petition could have significant implications for Florida's citrus producers and the ongoing debate over the nutritional value of orange juice.
