Thread by @torrHL

“The U.S. Federal Government Deregulates French Dressing -

The FDA withdrew its 72-year-old standard 24 years after being petitioned.”

wsj.com/articles/the-u…

“When the FDA established its standard 72 years ago, French dressing was one of just three dressings recognized by the agency.

The other two were mayonnaise and “salad dressing.”

“According to the original 1950 standard, a French dressing should include vegetable oil, and a vinegar and/or lemon or lime juice, and could be seasoned with ingredients such as salt, sugar, tomato paste or puree, and spices such as mustard or paprika.”

“In 2022, the French dressing perhaps best known to Americans has a more creamy texture, sweet flavor and red or orange composition.

There’s not much that’s French about it.”

“The Association for Dressings and Sauces, a trade association representing salad dressing, mayonnaise and condiment manufacturers, petitioned the FDA to revoke the rule in January 1998.”

“The restrictions on what constitutes a French dressing inhibited what could be created to match the desires of French dressing consumers, the petition argued.”

“Many different types of salad dressings—Italian, Ranch, Caesar and Blue cheese—were available for consumers and not affected by the same kind of standardization, the organization said.”

“The French dressing standard simply restricts innovation,” the trade association said once again in a written statement Wednesday.

“The FDA said the move is related in part to the agency’s efforts to modernize food standards so that the industry can innovate and produce healthier foods.

The agency is also required by law to re-examine its regulations.”

“The FDA didn’t respond to questions about the decades gap between the request for a revocation and the rule change.

Back in 1950s, James Beard argued a proper French dressing was closer to what would now be referred to as a vinaigrette, with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper,“