New standards for fruit and vegetable juices

The Centre is likely to impose new standards to fruits&vegetables juices. Amending the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1955, a draft notification (GSR 871E) has been issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The notification stated that one or more of the nutritive sweeteners may be added in amounts not exceeding 50 gram per kilogram for the thermally processed fruit juices. Also, it should not exceed 200 gram per kilogram in acidic fruit juices except in the case of apple juice, orange juice (reconstituted from concentrate), grape juice, pineapple juice (reconstituted from concentrate). Also, for lemon and lime juice, the minimum percentage of citric acid should be four per cent and five per cent, respectively. The maximum limit of the additives like sorbic acid and its calcium, sodium&potassium salt in the carbonated fruit beverages shall be 300 ppm.

Further, when packed in the rigid containers, fruit juice container shall be filled with the product and shall occupy not less than 90 per cent of the water capacity of the container. The water capacity of the container is the volume of distilled water at 20oC, which the sealed container is capable of holding when completely filled.