Bottles of apple juice sold at Walmart that were recalled earlier this month were classified as Class II risk by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday because they contained elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.

A Class II risk classification means that consumption of the product “could cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects.”

On August 15, Refresco Beverages US voluntarily recalled its Great Value brand apple juice sold at Walmart.

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The recall affects 9,535 cases of the product, which is packaged in 237 ml plastic bottles and sold in six-packs.

The apple juice recall affects retail stores in the following locations: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia.

The recall, initiated on August 15, 2024, includes apple juice labeled with the code “Best before 12/28/2024” and the UPC number 0-78742-29655-5.

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On Friday, the FDA classified the product as a Class II risk due to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.

A Class II recall occurs “in a situation where use of or contact with an illicit product may result in temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or the likelihood of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

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Tests found that the juice contained arsenic levels above the FDA’s industry recommended level of 10 parts per billion (ppb), at 13.2 ppb.

Although arsenic is a widely distributed, naturally occurring element, it can form inorganic compounds that are toxic to humans.

Because certain levels of arsenic can be harmful to health, the FDA monitors and regulates arsenic levels in foods.

Inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen that, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, can pose significant health risks if consumed long-term, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as children and pregnant women.

Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, or pins and needles in the feet and hands with associated weakness, abdominal pain or diarrhea, patchy areas of increased skin pigmentation, patchy areas of thickened outer layer of skin, and a number of others.

Ingesting inorganic arsenic can increase the risk of skin cancer, liver, bladder and lung cancer. Inhaling inorganic arsenic can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Newsweek Refresco Beverages US emailed outside of normal business hours for comment.