After almost 70 years, French dressing is finally getting a break from FDA regulations governing its identity.
According to Fox News, the standard identity rule of French dressing was established in 1950 and was amended in 1960 and 1970.
Last Friday, the FDA announced its plan to remove the current standard of identity for French dressing. In a statement, the agency noted that the standard does not seem necessary to ensure that the French dressing meets customer expectations.
Related reports from NBC News also stated that the FDA indefinitely concluded that it is no longer vital to promote honest and fair dealing in the interest of customers and may limit flexibility for innovation.
As per the FDA's website, this decision is part of the Nutrition Innovation Strategy (NIS) of the agency. The NIS goal is to modernize food standards to keep the essential nature and nutritional integrity of products.
Consequently, it allows industry flexibility for innovation to produce more healthful foods. The agency also believed that it is necessary to take a fresh approach to existing identity standards while considering marketing trends and the latest nutritional science.
Under the existing standard, French dressing must contain oil, vinegar, lemon, or lime juice. It may also have salt, spices, tomato paste, or color additives, among other ingredients.
FDA's move to remove this existing standard for French dressing is a response to a petition from the Association for Dressings and Sauces. Although some may view this as a sign of relief, there are also adverse reactions to this decision.
New York University Professor Emerita of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Marion Nestle, views the FDA's decision from a slightly less sunny perspective. She claimed that many things are more important than this revocation.
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She also said that the industry wants to do this because they want less fat in the standard of identification. She noted that the industry is pushing to put more junk in it as they argue that consumers know what they are and have an idea of what they are buying.
She said that she couldn't help but laugh at the said announcement from the FDA.It is not only French dressing that is governed under this mandatory standard.
Products like bread, fruit jams, particular vegetable and fruit juices, and other specific types of chocolate are also under this regulation.
The FDA also made another announcement to revoke that standard identity for frozen cherry pie. As for revoking the standard rules for frozen cherry pie, the FDA announced it last Thursday under the same considerations with French dressing.
Under the existing standards, frozen cherry pie is described as unbaked and composed of a filling of mature, pitted, stemmed cherries in a frozen pastry shell. Also, it is required to contain other optional ingredients, but artificial sweeteners are not permitted.
The standard of quality also includes requirements for the cherries used in pies, including the amount and limitations on blemishes.
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