OAN Staff James Meyers
8:44 AM – Monday, August 26, 2024
Over 9,500 cases of apple juice sold at Walmart stores across the United States are being recalled due to an elevated level of “inorganic arsenic,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced earlier this month.
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The juices were made by Refresco Beverages U.S. Inc and were then sold by the chain store.
According to the FDA, the contaminated products are the “Great Value: brand 80z Apple Juice,” which were sold in six packs in PET plastic bottles.
The recalled juices have a UPC of 0-78742-29655-5 and a “best if used by” date of December 28th, 2024. The recall began on August 15th and was classified as a “Class II” recall on August 23rd, according to the FDA.
The juice was sold in Walmart stores in several states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, said the FDA.
According to the FDA’s website, a “Class II” recall means “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
The contaminated apple juices were found to have arsenic levels of 13.2 parts per billion. In June 2023, the FDA issued industry guidance specifically for apple juice, stating that the upper limit of inorganic arsenic should be parts per billion.
“Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can cause cancer and skin lesions. It has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In utero and early childhood exposure has been linked to negative impacts on cognitive development and increased deaths in young adults,” the WHO reported.
“The potential for long-term adverse health effects from consuming food contaminated with arsenic vary depending on the level of arsenic in the food; age of the consumer; length, amount, and frequency of exposure to arsenic in the food; and other exposures happening at the same time— either to arsenic from other sources, or other contaminants or to beneficial nutrients,” the FDA said.
The exposure can be specifically dangerous for children, said the FDA, and “is associated with adverse neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties, and lowered IQ.”
“For adults, long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic has been associated with skin disorders and increased risks for skin, bladder, and lung cancers, and for cardiovascular disease.”
Additionally, short-term exposure to “very high amounts of inorganic arsenic” can result in multiple side effects, including nausea, vomiting, bruising, as well as “numbness or burning sensations” in the hands and feet, they said.
However, a consumer should not avoid an item altogether due to the presence of arsenic, they added.
“Because many of the most nutritious foods can also contain contaminants, consumers should eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods across and within the main food groups of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, and protein foods,” said the FDA.
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