The decision has regard to beverages sold under the name 'orange juice' on the packaging or bearing denominations that reference oranges.
In this regard, studies have highlighted that a drink with 20% of orange juice helps meet the daily recommended requirement of vitamin C and it has a varied mix of phytochemicals that can have a positive impact on the defences of the immune system.
The decision also has an economic impact on agricultural enterprises in Italy, as the increase in fruit percentage in soft drinks could save over 10,000 hectares of Italian citrus fruits, located mainly in Sicily and Calabria. The increase in the percentage of minimum fruit content to 20% corresponds to the use of 200 million kilogram more oranges a year.
