How to Keep Safe Amid All the Arsenic-Related Apple Juice Recalls

Yet another company has recalled apple juice over arsenic concerns. Walmart is pulling nearly 10,000 cases of Great Value apple juice from shelves after testing revealed the juice contained inorganic arsenic levels above industry standards. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally issued the recall on August 15, but increased the warning to a more urgent classification on Friday. This is now a class II recall, which is a designation given to situations where the use of or exposure to a product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” per the FDA. 

The recalled juice was sold in eigh-ounce bottles in six packs in Walmart stores across 25 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. A spokesperson for Refresco, which makes the juice, did not immediately respond to our request for comment. 

This isn’t the first time this year that apple juice has been recalled over arsenic concerns. In May, nearly 25,000 cases of Martinelli’s apple juice were pulled from shelves after testing revealed elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.

Arsenic is linked to serious health complications. Given that apple juice is often consumed by children, is this still considered a safe beverage? Here’s what we know. 

What is arsenic?

Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance that’s found in the air, water, and soil, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Arsenic is released into the environment through industrial and agricultural processes and comes in two forms: organic and inorganic. Inorganic arsenic, which is the type that has shown up in the apple juice recalls, is considered the more toxic form, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

How are people exposed to arsenic?

There are a few potential ways of being exposed to arsenic. You can be exposed from smoking tobacco, being around tobacco smoke, drinking contaminated plants, or eating plants that were irrigated with contaminated water, per the NCI. Inorganic arsenic is also naturally present in groundwater in some countries, including the U.S. It’s considered more harmful to be exposed to arsenic in contaminated drinking water than arsenic in contaminated foods, according to the NCI. 

“In the U.S., arsenic — especially inorganic arsenic — was used in agricultural activities as a component of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides,” says Jordan Kuiper, Ph.D., epidemiologist and assistant professor in the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. “It is important to note that apple trees, and certain other fruits and vegetables, are able to uptake arsenic from the contaminated soil and/or water, where it is then moved to other parts of the plant, including the apple fruit itself. However, arsenic can be introduced to the final product, apple juice, at multiple points along the production process.”

Why is arsenic dangerous?

Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic can lead to arsenic poisoning. Arsenic is also a carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer, and it’s linked to a higher risk of skin, lung, and bladder cancer, per the WHO. It also comes with a higher risk of developmental issues, diabetes, pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease. 

But arsenic poisoning can also lead to short-term symptoms, according to the WHO. Those include:

• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

Symptoms can also be followed by numbness and tingling of the extremities, muscle cramps, and even death in extreme cases. 

So, is it safe to drink apple juice?

Experts are hesitant to say that people should completely swear off apple juice, but they do recommend limiting how much of it you and your family members consume. 

“While arsenic can naturally occur in some foods, including apple juice, the levels are generally considered low and safe for consumption,” says Daniel Ganjian, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. “However, it’s important to note that the amount of arsenic in apple juice can vary depending on factors such as where the apples are grown and the specific processing methods used.”

Ansley Schulte, M.D., pediatric medical director at KidsPeace, recommends that parents be on the lookout for specific recalls and food safety concerns, adding, “but apple juice is still considered safe to drink.”

Kuiper agrees, but recommends having apple juice in limited quantities. “While the concentrations of arsenic found in the majority of apple juices are below the current threshold of 10 parts per billion, increasing evidence from epidemiologic studies suggests that chronic or repeated exposure to even lower levels of arsenic can have an impact on human health, especially for children, who are the major consumers of fruit juices,” he says. 

You don’t need to drink apple juice, but if you or your family members enjoy having it, Ganjian recommends having it in moderation. (Keep in mind that apple juice is sometimes mixed in with other juices, like grape juice, making it important to read labels.) He also encourages parents to offer their kids a variety of fruits and vegetables, and to eat whole fruits over juice. 

Schulte also stresses that fruit juices, including apple juice, aren’t as nutritious as they sound. “Much of the nutritious parts of the fruit, like the fiber and nutrients from the skin, are removed in the juicing process,” she says. “This leaves just the sweet, sugary fruit flavor and little nutritional value. Extra calories from drinks like juice can cause weight gain, and the sugar can sit on teeth, leading to cavities and decay.”

If your child loves juice, Schulte recommends trying to limit it to four ounces or less a day for toddlers, six ounces a day for 4- to 6-year-olds, and eight ounces a day for older children. “When kids want a sweeter beverage like juice, one tip that I recommend is to mix a small amount of juice with water,” she says. “This gives a sweeter flavor without as many calories, and in this case, significantly lower risk of arsenic exposure.”

If you have concerns about your child’s arsenic exposure, Ganjian recommends contacting their pediatrician. “It’s important to remember that while the risk of arsenic exposure from apple juice is generally low, it’s always a good idea to be mindful of your child’s overall diet and to seek professional advice if you have any concerns,” he says.