New juice warning-labeling guidance

Juice not processed to reduce pathogens by 100ꯠ fold, referred to as a 5-log reduction, must bear a warning label. The agency warned that greater scientific understanding indicates its old guidance may be insufficient. In a change from the previous guidance, FDA recommended that the 5-log reduction treatment and final-product packaging occur under the control of one firm in a single production facility that is operating under current good manufacturing practices and immediately before or after packing. Good agricultural practices at the farming and harvesting level do not count toward the 5-log reduction. Processors who are not treating their juice to achieve the 5-log reduction should continue to follow the warning-label rule.