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ORAC Values: The ORAC Myth and Why the USDA Database Was Withdrawn

ORAC is a test-tube score once published for foods by the USDA. See what it measures, why the database was withdrawn in 2010, and why a high number is not a health claim.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

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An ORAC value is a number from a laboratory test that was widely used to rank foods and supplements as "high in antioxidants." A 2026 scientific review reports that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) withdrew its ORAC food database in 2010, saying the numbers did not show effects on human health. [1] This page explains what that means for labels and shopping.

One note on sourcing: we could not open the USDA's own statement (the USDA pages we tried returned "not found"). What follows about the withdrawal comes from that peer-reviewed review, which quotes the USDA. It is a second-hand account, not the USDA page itself.

What ORAC measures

ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity. It is a test-tube method that uses a chemical oxidant (peroxyl radicals) and measures how well a sample resists it. [1] It belongs to a family of "total antioxidant capacity" (TAC) tests. Those tests measure only part of what we call antioxidant activity, and different TAC methods give different answers. [2] Phenolic plant compounds (polyphenols) account for most of the measured antioxidant capacity in fruits, vegetables and most botanical supplements. [3]

For the plain-language background on oxidation and the body's own defenses, see Antioxidants Explained.

What happened to the USDA database

  • 2007: a review reports that ORAC values for about 300 foods were made available in a USDA database. [1]
  • 2010: the same review says the database was withdrawn by the USDA. [1]
  • Reasons quoted: "mounting evidence" that the capacity values have no relevance to the effects of specific bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, on human health; and no evidence that benefits of polyphenol-rich foods can be attributed to their antioxidant properties. [1]
  • Also quoted: test-tube capacity data cannot be extrapolated to effects in people, and trials of dietary antioxidants have produced mixed results. [1]

Why a high ORAC number is not a health claim

4 findings · 4 limited or unclearThe colour follows the evidence label on each card.

  1. Does a food's test-tube score predict what it does in the body?

    Authors' conclusion from a review of methods

    A 2014 review says food TAC values cannot be translated to human antioxidant defenses or to health effects of the food. [4]

  2. Do different tests agree?

    Same review

    Different TAC assays correlate poorly with each other. [4]

  3. Can a food score be used to promise a benefit?

    Authors' conclusion from a review

    A 2020 review calls a direct link between a food's TAC value and any health benefit "erroneous" and says it has led to several cases of consumer deception. [5]

  4. Does the same hold for ORAC specifically?

    Authors' view

    The 2026 review describes ORAC as an indirect index of food quality, useful for screening studies. [1]

"Proper evidence not found": we looked for a trial showing that choosing foods or supplements by ORAC score improves a health outcome (PubMed and the reviews above) and did not find one.

ORAC on supplement labels

The 2026 review notes that some manufacturers put ORAC values on product labels and that supplement products competed for the "highest ORAC" title. [1] A bigger number on a bottle does not mean a bigger benefit, and it is not a safety rating. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, US) says the high doses in supplements may have different effects than the smaller amounts in foods, and that large amounts of antioxidants may interfere with important cell functions. [6]

To read a label with this in mind, see reading supplement labels and antioxidant myths: detox, anti-aging and cure-all claims.

Frequently asked questions

What does ORAC stand for?

Oxygen radical absorbance capacity. It is a test-tube method that uses peroxyl radicals as the oxidant. [1]

Did the USDA really remove its ORAC database?

A 2026 peer-reviewed review says the USDA withdrew it in 2010. [1] We could not open the USDA's own page, so we attribute the statement to that review.

Does a food with a high ORAC score protect my health?

The sources we read say food capacity values cannot be translated to health effects in people. [4]

Are ORAC scores on supplements reliable?

The scores describe a laboratory test, not a result in people. Some manufacturers have put them on labels. [1] Ask a pharmacist or clinician about any product, especially during cancer treatment. [6]

Should I choose foods by ORAC value?

No source we read supports that. NHS (UK) advice is to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables, because different ones contain different nutrients. [7] See antioxidant-rich foods.

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Safety and who should ask a clinician
  • Cancer treatment: NCCIH says antioxidants might reduce the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments. [6] Tell your oncology team about every supplement, powder or "antioxidant" drink before starting.
  • Medicines, pregnancy, children, kidney or liver conditions, and before surgery: a product advertised by its score still needs a pharmacist or clinician check. See medication interactions.
  • More on high doses and marketing: antioxidant safety and marketing claims. For food-based choices, see antioxidant-rich foods.
References
  1. ORAC: The Method of Choice for Determining Antioxidant Capacity of Food Products? (full text on PubMed Central). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026. Quotes the USDA's reasons for withdrawing its ORAC database. Read 2026-10-23.
  2. Non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity assays: Limitations of use in biomedicine. Free Radical Research, 2010. Read 2026-10-23.
  3. Analysis of botanicals and dietary supplements for antioxidant capacity: a review. Journal of AOAC International, 2000. Read 2026-10-23.
  4. In vitro measurements and interpretation of total antioxidant capacity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 2014. Read 2026-10-23.
  5. Twenty-five years of total antioxidant capacity measurement of foods and biological fluids: merits and limitations. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2020. Read 2026-10-23.
  6. Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (US), last updated July 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
  7. Why 5 A Day? NHS (UK), page last reviewed September 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.