Issued by: Guidance Issuing Office Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Office of Regulatory Affairs

BACKGROUND:

Historically it has been the policy of the Food and Drug Administration to allow the artificial coloring of the skins of mature oranges. It is a common practice to color the skins of oranges in certain orange growing areas of the country because of climatic or cultural conditions which cause the oranges to mature while still green in color. The coloring of the skins of oranges is done in one of two ways:

Adding a color to the skin of the orange, Citrus Red No. 2 (21 CFR 74.302(c)) if they are not intended or used for processing and they meet the maturity standards for the states in which they are grown. Subjecting the orange to ethylene gas by a commercial process. This hastens the blanching process which apparently takes place normally after picking.

POLICY:

Artificially colored oranges received in bulk and sold at a retail establishment are not required to bear a label statement declaring the use of artificial coloring, provided the oranges are displayed to the purchaser with either (1) the labeling of the bulk container plainly in view, or (2) a counter card, sign or other appropriate device bearing prominently and conspicuously the fact that the oranges are artificially colored (21 CFR 101.22(e)). Oranges are deemed adulterated in accordance with Section 402(b)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, even though the artificial coloring is declared, if the coloring is used to conceal any inferiority or defect.

Issued: 10/1/80