Nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice from Walmart stores in the US have been recalled after the juice was found to contain potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic, the Associated Press reports. Alabama and several other states in the southeast are also affected by the recall.
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration upgraded the recall of Great Value brand apple juice to Class II, after first announcing a voluntary recall on August 15. Under the new classification, the affected product could cause temporary adverse health effects, but serious medical problems are unlikely, the AP reported.
In total, Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US Inc. is recalling 9,535 cases of the apple juice that was sold in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
The recall involves Great Value brand apple juice sold in six-packs of 8-ounce bottles. The manufacturer voluntarily recalled the bottles after finding levels of inorganic arsenic that exceeded the industry standard (13.2 ppm), the FDA said.
Refresco and Walmart did not immediately respond to AP requests for comment.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is found throughout the Earth’s crust and in certain foods, according to the National Institutes of Health. The FDA tests foods for arsenic, prioritizing foods that could be eaten by young children.
Studies have shown that inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than organic arsenic, and the health effects of exposure are more severe, according to the NIH. Inorganic arsenic is considered a carcinogen, a substance that causes cancer.
However, according to AP, the FDA does not believe that the levels of inorganic arsenic found in Great Value apple juice pose serious health consequences, nor has the agency released any reports of possible illnesses related to the apple juice recall.
Read the AP story.
Here are the states affected by the recall:
– Birmingham area, United Kingdom
– Birmingham area, United Kingdom
– Columbia Region
– San Francisco Region, United States of America
– Miami area, United States
– Georgia
– Washington, DC area
– Indiana Region
– Washington Region, United States of America
– New York Region, United States
– Washington, DC area
– Maine Region
– Michigan Region
– Mississippi Region
– North Carolina Region
– New Hampshire Region
– New Jersey Region
– Munich
– Washington Region, United States
– Washington, DC area
– Puerto Rico
– Rhode Island Region
– South Carolina Region
– Washington Region, United States of America
– Virginia Region
– Vermont Region
– Washington, DC area
