Walmart has issued a recall of nearly 10,000 cases of Great Value apple juice sold in 25 states due to elevated levels of arsenic, a toxic metal that can have adverse health effects. The recall affects 8-ounce bottles of apple juice sold in six-packs, with inorganic arsenic levels of 13.2 parts per billion, exceeding the FDA’s safe limit of 10 ppb. The affected products have a UPC code of 0-78742-29655-5 and a “best if used by” date of DEC2824 CT89-6. The FDA designated the recall as a Class II, meaning exposure may lead to temporary or reversible adverse health consequences.
The Great Value apple juice was sold in states primarily in the South and Northeast, as well as in Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Refresco Beverages Inc., a Dutch-based company with US headquarters in Tampa, Florida, initiated the recall on Aug. 15. Arsenic may be present in apple juice if it is in the fruit itself, as small traces of arsenic can be found in water and soil, which plants like apple trees absorb. While arsenic exists naturally in soil, it was also found in chemicals sprayed on orchards in the past. Human activities can also contribute to arsenic deposits in the soil.
Inorganic arsenic, the type of arsenic involved in the Walmart recall, is a toxic heavy metal that is more harmful than organic arsenic and is a known carcinogen. Most foods containing arsenic typically have the organic form, but inorganic arsenic can enter the environment through various means, including contaminated drinking water. Another recent recall of apple juice due to arsenic contamination was issued by S. Martinelli & Company, the maker of Martinelli’s Gold Medal Apple Juice, in May, recalling 24,519 cases for elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.
Exposure to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic from contaminated apple juice is unlikely to cause serious symptoms, as indicated by the Class II recall designation by the FDA; however, it may lead to temporary or reversible health issues. Short-term signs of arsenic poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and muscle cramping, according to the World Health Organization. Exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic is particularly hazardous for children, as it has been linked to learning disabilities, decreased IQ, and behavioral difficulties. Despite the potential health risks associated with arsenic contamination in apple juice, Walmart and other companies are actively working to address the issue and ensure the safety of their products.
