Brazil's orange juice producers, represented by the association Citrus BR, has accepted that the FDA is not going to change testing standards (called "enforcement discretion") for carbendazim in concentrated orange juice. Food Poisoning Bulletin reported two weeks ago that consumers do use orange juice in the concentrated form. The FDA refused to test for the fungicide in diluted orange juice concentrate, which Citrus BR had requested. The agency said that since carbendazim is deliberately applied to the oranges, it won't test the diluted product. The government tests diluted apple juice for patulin and diluted prune juice for lead because those chemicals occur naturally in the environment. Citrus BR said that their growers will phase out carbendazim and change policies so their … [Read more...]
Consumers Do Use Undiluted Orange Juice Concentrate
The FDA has denied a request from the Brazilian Citrus Exporters Association (Citrus BR), who asked the government agency to measure carbendazim amounts in concentrated orange juice on an "as consumed" (diluted) basis. The Juice Products Association (JPA), the representative of the United States fruit and juice products industry, expressed its disappointment at the FDA Decision. On a statement on its web site, the JPA said, "Juice processors maintain, however, that no one drinks orange juice concentrate and therefore the levels of carbendazim in orange juice should be evaluated on an “as consumed” basis, which is a more logical and practical way to assure safety for the consumer. FDA does have enforcement discretion to consider the fact that consumers don’t drink orange juice … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Orange Juice Carbendazim Testing
On February 16, 2012, the FDA released more information about its program of holding and testing imported orange juice for carbendazim, a fungicide. On that same day, the agency responded to a request submitted by the Brazilian Citrus Exporters Association (Citrus BR) for "enforcement discretion." In January, the government began holding and testing orange juice after Coca Cola stated they found carbendazim in products made from oranges imported from Brazil. The fungicide is legal to use in Brazil and other countries, but is illegal to use on oranges in the United States, which is why even tiny amounts are considered problematic. There is no maximum level set for carbendazim in orange juice in this country, although trace amounts are allowed in some foods. The European Union has set … [Read more...]
FDA Consulting Firm Publishes InfoGraphic on Pesticide Residues in OJ
Last week, the FDA consulting firm FDAImports.com published an InfoGraphic about pesticide residues in orange juice to reassure consumers that the beverage is safe to drink. Recent reports about the illegal fungicide carbendazim that were found in some brands of orange juice have worried consumers. It's scary to hear that such chemicals are in the foods we give our families. The FDA is holding imported orange juice and testing it to make sure the levels of carbendazim are much lower than EU standards. The government is using EU standards because there are no U.S. standards for carbendazim, since the fungicide is not cleared for use on oranges in this country. Bottom line: the FDA is working to ensure that any levels of carbendazim in orange juice are miniscule, and there is no … [Read more...]
