FDA To Revoke 52 Obsolete Standards of Identity for Food Products

The FDA today (July 16) announced it is revoking or proposing to revoke 52 food standards of identity after concluding they are obsolete and unnecessary. The standards are for canned fruits and vegetables, dairy products, baked goods, macaroni products and other foods.

One action revokes standards for 11 types of canned fruits and vegetables that are no longer sold in U.S. grocery stores, including seven standards for fruits artificially sweetened with saccharin or sodium saccharin.

Another proposed new rule would revoke standards for 18 types of dairy products – including certain milk and cream products, cheeses and related cheese products and frozen desserts.

A third cancels standards for 23 types of various food products, including bakery products, macaroni and noodle products, canned fruit juices, fish and shellfish, and food dressings and flavorings.

The FDA began establishing food standards in 1939 to promote “honesty and fair dealing” and to ensure that the characteristics, ingredients and production processes of specific foods were consistent with what consumers expect. However, advances in food science, agriculture and production practices, and additional consumer protections have made many of these older, rigid “recipe standards” unnecessary, the agency said.

“The FDA’s Standards of Identity efforts have helped ensure uniformity, boost consumer confidence and prevent food fraud. But many of these standards have outlived their usefulness and may even stifle innovation in making food easier to produce or providing consumers healthier choices,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “Antiquated food standards are no longer serving to protect consumers. It is common sense to revoke them and move to a more judicious use of food standards and agency resources.”

Today’s actions are the first results from the agency’s ongoing analysis of its portfolio of over 250 food Standards of Identity (SOI) to make sure they are useful, relevant and serve consumers in the best possible way. Health & Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy added they cut bureaucratic red tape.