By James Myers, OAN Staff
Monday, August 26, 2024 8:44 AM
Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that more than 9,500 cases of apple juice sold at Walmart stores across the country were being recalled due to elevated levels of “inorganic arsenic.”
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The juice was produced by Refresco Beverages US Inc and then sold in a chain of stores.
According to the FDA, the contaminated product was “Great Value: Brand 80z Apple Juice,” sold in six-packs in PET plastic bottles.
The recalled juice has a UPC of 0-78742-29655-5 and a “best before” date of December 28, 2024.
The recall began on August 15th.Number It was classified as a “Class II” recall on August 23rd.rdThe FDA said in a statement:
According to the FDA, the products were sold at Walmart stores in multiple states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, the 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.
According to the FDA website, a “Class II” recall refers to a situation “in which use of or exposure to the violative product may result in temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects or is unlikely to result in serious adverse health effects.”
According to the FDA, the contaminated apple juice contained 13.2 ppb of arsenic. In June 2023, the FDA issued industry guidelines specific to apple juice, stating that the limit for inorganic arsenic should be ppb.
According to the FDA website, arsenic is a mineral that can be toxic to humans.
“The potential for long-term adverse health effects from consuming arsenic-contaminated foods depends on the arsenic concentration in the food, the age of the consumer, the duration, amount, and frequency of exposure to arsenic in food, and other concurrent exposures (either to arsenic from other sources, other contaminants, or beneficial nutrients),” the researchers said.
The FDA said exposure to the substance is particularly dangerous to children and has been “associated with adverse neurological effects, including learning disabilities, behavioral problems and reduced IQ.”
“In adults, long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with skin damage and increased risks of skin, bladder, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease.”
Moreover, short-term exposure to “very high concentrations of inorganic arsenic” can cause a variety of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, bruising and even “numbness and burning” in the hands and feet, the researchers said.
But he added that consumers should not avoid the product entirely because it contains arsenic.
“Because many nutritious foods may contain contaminants, consumers should eat a variety of nutritious foods within and across major food groups, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products and protein foods,” the FDA said.
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