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Guidance for Processing Fresh Juices in Retail Operations

Keith R. Schneider, W. Steve Otwell, Victor Garrido, and Ray Mobley

This publication is only available in PDF format. Click here to print or view the entire publication: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FS/FS11400.pdf

The following is a description of this publication:

Juice is defined in 21 CFR 120.1; "juice"' refers both to beverages that are composed exclusively of an aqueous liquid or liquids extracted from one or more fruits or vegetables and to the juice ingredient in those beverages that contain other ingredients in addition to juice. In this guidance, the term "juice product" refers both to beverages that contain only juice and to the juice ingredient of beverages that are composed of juice and other ingredients. Fresh juice is defined as a juice product that has not been subjected to a process, such as pasteurization, to prevent, reduce or eliminate microbiological hazards.

Background

This guidance has been prepared in response to a notable increase in on-site retail processing (manufacturing) of foods traditionally processed in controlled plant environments. Such retail processing can involve, but is not limited to acidifying, smoking, drying, fermenting, curing, reduced oxygen packaging, and other operations that are traditionally done at a food manufacturing plant level. The key distinction for processing as related to this guidance is that the processing occurs on-site in the retail setting. This guidance is intended for retailers and regulatory personnel to help understand the controls to implement in a retail operation in order to process and sell safe food products. It can be referenced in developing considerations for variances for any exception or special provision to state or local food safety or sanitary codes. It addresses those special variances required by the FDA Food Code which may require HACCP plans for those jurisdictions that have adopted those portions of the FDA Food Code. In addition, it also applies to regulatory oversight and/or approval for regulatory overlap that may occur between the states processing requirements and the state or local retail food safety and sanitary codes. This guidance assumes retail compliance with applicable retail food codes, prerequisite standard sanitary operations procedures, and labeling requirements specified in 21 CFR 101. This guidance is not intended to replace or duplicate existing regulations, but it does offer a reference for more uniform practices.

Disclaimer

This guidance is not a binding set of requirements. The information provided in the guidance are recommendations based on current science, commercial experience and practical considerations as assembled by the assigned committees and reviewed by a variety of selected experts and the Project Steering Committee. Use of these recommendations would likely result in retail processing practices that are acceptable to the pertinent authorities for food safety. Retail compliance and enforcement will remain within the interpretations and decisions of the pertinent state and local regulatory authorities.

Publication #FSHN0506

Release Date:February 28, 2019

Reviewed At:April 15, 2022

Related Experts

Garrido, Victor M

University of Florida

Schneider, Keith R.

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Otwell, Steve

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

  • Critical Issue: Agricultural and Food Systems
Fact Sheet

About this Publication

This document is FSHN0506, one of a series of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date February 2005. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Keith R. Schneider, professor, W. Steve Otwell, professor, and Victor Garrido, former research coordinator, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611; and Ray Mobley, PhD, Florida A&M University.

Contacts

  • Keith Schneider