Seventy-two years later, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally relaxed the current regulations on what defines “French dressing.” This final rule, officially entered into force on February 14, 2022, has been in effect for over 24 years since the citizens’ petition was submitted by the Dressing and Sources Association in 1998.
Back in 1950, when there were only three officially identified dressing types on the shelves, the FDA created a rule defining what French dressing should be. It was generally characterized as a dressing containing “fat ingredients, acidifying ingredients, seasoning ingredients”.
Acidifying ingredients include vinegar and certain citrus fruits (such as lemons and limes), but tomatoes have been used as acidic ingredients for many years, giving the orange / red color of French dressings that consumers now associate with their products. I am producing.
Over the years, regulations have become more specific, French dressings must contain at least 35% vegetable oil, and innovators offer “fat-free” or “low-fat” alternatives. It states that things are difficult.
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But this did not stop companies from trying to make products that worked for their customers. The fat-free version of the French dressing, sold under unobtrusive titles such as “Creamy French” and “Sweet & Spicy French,” has created innovative products that customers will find enjoyable while circumventing the FDA’s previous regulations.
Nonetheless, the FDA not only revolutionizes companies by lifting the current regulations on French dressing, but the current standards “will no longer promote honest and fair transactions for the benefit of consumers. Therefore, we conclude that it creates transparency. “Revoking a standard can provide greater flexibility in the manufacture of a product, in line with the equivalent non-standardized foods available on the market,” they said.
What does this mean for grocery shoppers?
Many predict that the French dressing we know will not change much. Especially considering that this dressing is already loved by consumers.
However, you may find different types of classic French dressings to suit your particular dietary needs. Instead of buying a “creamy” fat-free French dressing, you may see several versions of classic French dressing bottles made of fat-free, low-fat, or different types of oils.
Given that previous regulations on French dressing did not allow the use of additional ingredients in recipes, you may notice several types, including new ingredients.
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