After more than 70 years, the FDA is dropping its regulation for French dressing (2024)

The Association for Dressing and Sauces, an industry group, petitioned for the government standards for French dressing to be revoked in 1998. Bebeto Matthews/AP hide caption

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Bebeto Matthews/AP

After more than 70 years, the FDA is dropping its regulation for French dressing (2)

The Association for Dressing and Sauces, an industry group, petitioned for the government standards for French dressing to be revoked in 1998.

Bebeto Matthews/AP

After more than 70 years, the federal government has decided that French dressing no longer needs to be regulated.

"When the standard of identity was established in 1950, French dressing was one of three types of dressings we identified," the Food and Drug Administration said in the final rule posted in the Federal Register on Thursday. The other two were mayonnaise and just "salad dressing."

French dressing is the only pourable dressing required to adhere to standards that require it to contain oil, acidifying ingredients and seasoning. Other foods, including bread, jam and juices, have their own standards of identity.

When it comes to French dressing, many consumers expect red or red-orange color and tomato or tomato-derived elements — none of which are required under the standards.

The Association for Dressing and Sauces, an industry group founded in 1926, petitioned for the standards to be revoked in 1998, citing the explosion in varieties of salad dressings available — among them ranch, cheese, peppercorn and Italian. French dressing is no longer a baseline for other dressings and has become "marginalized," the association said.

In December 2020, the FDA proposed revoking the standard for French dressing in the name of "flexibility" and "innovation." French dressing's standard of identity was not honest or fair, either, according to the FDA's final rule.

"There are a wide variety of French-style dressings on the market, and these will continue to be available based on consumer demand," the industry association wrote in a public comment on the revocation of the standards last spring.

"Today, the @US_FDA revoked the standard of identity for #frenchdressing because it is ... gasp ... outdated," the Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy at UCLA tweeted.

Today,the@US_FDArevoked the standard of identity for#frenchdressingbecause it is...gasp...outdated.https:

The final rule, which will go into effect Feb. 14, won't require makers to change their manufacturing practices, the FDA said.

A version of this story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog.

After more than 70 years, the FDA is dropping its regulation for French dressing (2024)

FAQs

After more than 70 years, the FDA is dropping its regulation for French dressing? ›

In December 2020, the FDA proposed revoking the standard for French dressing in the name of "flexibility" and "innovation." French dressing's standard of identity was not honest or fair, either, according to the FDA's final rule.

Is French dressing being discontinued? ›

FDA revokes rules on manufacture of French dressing after 70 years. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday agreed to revoke the decades-old standard of identity for French salad dressing, saying in part that the outdated requirement “no longer promotes honesty and fair dealing.”

What is going on with French dressing? ›

FDA drops regulations on French dressing : NPR. FDA drops regulations on French dressing French dressing is the only pourable dressing required to adhere to standards. The Association for Dressing and Sauces, an industry group, petitioned to pull the standards in the name of "innovation."

Why did the FDA deregulate French dressing? ›

By removing the standard, the FDA hopes to “provide greater flexibility in the product's manufacture, consistent with comparable, nonstandardized foods available in the marketplace.” The move was made in response to a 1998 petition that was filed by the Association of Dressings and Sauces.

What are the FDA regulations for French dressing? ›

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revoking the standard of identity for French dressing. We conclude that the standard no longer promotes honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.

What ever happened to French dressing? ›

The Food and Drug Administration recently announced it would no longer regulate the standards for French salad dressing. Those standards required certain ingredients. As it turns out, French dressing was a name given to variations of a vinaigrette dressing.

Is French dressing OK? ›

Ranch and French dressing were ranked the unhealthiest options of the bunch because of their high sodium (260 milligrams and 240 milligrams, respectively) and fat content (14 grams in ranch including 2.5 grams saturated fat, and 15 grams in French with 1 gram saturated fat).

What is the healthiest salad dressing? ›

Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest. The exception? We like products made with healthy swaps—think Greek yogurt in place of mayo or heavy cream.

What is French dressing in America? ›

French dressing is made of oil, vinegar, sugar, and other flavorings, with the coloring derived from tomato and often paprika. It exists on a spectrum between Russian and Catalina dressing. French dressing is generally pale orange and creamy, while Catalina French dressing is bright red and less creamy.

What is the French FDA called? ›

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) – FDA, Confidentiality Commitment.

What is the difference between the EU regulation and the FDA? ›

One of the main differences between the EU medical device regulation and the FDA is that a clinical evaluation must be performed for all medical devices, no matter the class. As risk increases, so do requirements. Higher risk devices do require clinical investigations (tests on humans) in both markets.

What's the difference between California French and regular French dressing? ›

A. Yes, the California French is a classic Catalina dressing, with bright red colour and notes of sweet tomato, tangy vinegar, and spicy paprika, among other ingredients. However, it has a thinner consistency than a classic French dressing.

What is not included in French dressing? ›

The ingredient that is not used in making french dressing is the egg yolk. What is a french dressing? This creamy dressing that varies in color from pale orange to bright red is American cuisine. In France they call it vinaigrette and it is usually made of oil, vinegar, sugar, and other flavorings.

Does laundry detergent have to be FDA approved? ›

The FDA does not approve detergents, but rather requires that the customer validate their cleaning and document that they are using their detergent correctly.

Why was French dressing regulated? ›

Since 1950, the federal government has defined French dressing by a rigid set of standards that it had said would protect consumers from “economic adulteration,” or food fraud, and reflect their expectations about food.

What's the difference between catalina and French dressing? ›

The basic distinction between the two is that Catalina contains more ketchup, less oil, and usually fewer spices than French dressing, making for a deeper red-orange color. Because French dressing has more oil, it tends to taste creamier and look a paler shade of orange.

Is French dressing the same as Dorothy? ›

Picky eaters love it, dads love it, and you'll love how many different ways it can come to the table. Is Dorothy Lynch a “French style” dressing? No. Most French style dressings are oil-based.

Is French style dressing the same as Catalina? ›

Catalina is often considered a subset of French dressing, with most of the same ingredients — ketchup, oil, vinegar, sugar, and other seasonings — but in different proportions. French dressing tends to contain more oil and spices, while Catalina has a higher proportion of ketchup.

What is another name for French dressing? ›

In the nineteenth century, French dressing was synonymous with vinaigrette, which is still the definition used by the American professional culinary industry.

Does French salad dressing go bad? ›

The thing many people may not know about French Salad Dressings is that it keeps really well for up to 2 weeks. Yes it has eschalots (the small onions, also known as French shallots in Australia, or shallots in America). But it continues to flavour the dressing for around 2 weeks, and it doesn't go bad.

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