High Arsenic Levels In Apple Juice, Grape Juice Samples, Consumer Reports Finds

Arsenic levels in some apple juice and grape juice samples tested higher than what's considered safe, according to a study by Consumer Reports.

The study found that 10 percent of the sampled juices contained arsenic levels higher than the 10 parts per billion regulation for drinking water set by the Food and Drug Administration, according to a FOX News analysis of the results. Researchers measured 88 samples of apple and grape juices from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

A majority of the arsenic found in the samples was the inorganic or "harmful" kind.

Several apple juice brands had at least one sample with harmful arsenic levels, including Apple & Eve, Walmart's Great Value, and Mott's. Walgreens brand and Welch's grape juices both contained more than the standard amount, according to Consumer Reports.

The concern lies in the harmful, chronic effects that high arsenic levels can have on younger children, many of whom already drink more juice than is recommended by doctors.

"The fear is that over time arsenic will accumulate in children's bodies and raise their risk of cancer and other serious illnesses," Dr. Urvashi Rangan told NBC's "Today."

Dr. Mehmet Oz came under fire from the FDA in September after he aired results of a similar study on his show. The FDA pointed out that Oz did not differentiate between organic (good) and inorganic (bad) arsenic, according to MSNBC.

In a recent letter, the FDA said it would consider adding guidelines for "an appropriate level" for inorganic arsenic in apple juice, but stopped short of setting a firm "tolerance level," by saying that setting such levels "requires formal rulemaking and is a lengthy process" and that "tolerance levels are difficult to change in the future, in the event that our scientific understanding of an issue changes."

For more details on the report, visit the Consumer Reports website.

Comments

[Robert Barto]

11:28 PM on 12/07/2011

To learn how and why the FDA is allowing toxins into the food supply...
Read: www.ImpactMediaPublishing.com

[tigermarie]

03:56 PM on 12/04/2011

You know what's hysterical? Our local orchard is not allowed to sell enzyme-laden fresh squeezed apple juice (the non-pasteurization will "get you", purportedly...) But it's okay to drink arsenic in apple juice.

That about sums up our FDA at work. How about they go away and let us attempt to live our lives (as we have a right to do) without them trying to poison us. I'm for that.

How about we sign forms saying we won't sue the farmer if we decide to drink non-pasteurized milk and juice, because it's probably unbelieveably good for us, and we want it.

[tigermarie]

03:50 PM on 12/04/2011

BOYCOTT PRODUCTS MADE IN CHINA. EVERYONE. EXCEPT, THEN THEY'LL FIND A WAY TO SAY PRODUCTS ARE NOT FROM CHINA, OR THEY'LL SHIFT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO "BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE? OMG, ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND JOHN ADAMS MUST BE DOING CARTWHEELS IN HEAVEN...

RIGHT...JOBS IN AMERICA FOR AMERICANS.

ONE THING I CANNOT FIGURE OUT IS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO WIPE US OUT, WHO THEN IS GOING TO PAY TAXES TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT IN DOUGH? ARE WHAT ARE OUR OFFICIALS EATING AND DRINKING? ARE THEY IMMUNE TO WHAT THEY ARE ALLOWING?

MAYBE...BUT NOT IMMUNE TO KARMA. (CAUSE AND EFFECT FOR THOSE LOATHE TO EASTERN TERMS). NO ONE ESCAPRES RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT THEY DO....OUCH.

[tigermarie]

03:43 PM on 12/04/2011

Okay, just to add insult to injury, (and this is not about apple juice, I apologize ahead of time for those who are going to pounce...Anyhow, WHAT IN THE HE@# HAVE THEY BEEN SPRAYING IN THE SKY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS??
I had an associate that talked so much about diabolical "Chem Trails" that she was scaring me, and I stopped seeing her because she wouldn't shut up. Experimenting with God knows what?
I say, yes, I wouldn't put it past them. Just a theory, but a thrifty way to save on Social Security benefits...

[philogical]

03:39 PM on 12/04/2011

Sure the sky is falling, OK, I get it that you are afraid and live in fear that you might eat meat that comes from cows that breathed second hand smoke and that the water you drink is not safe because fish procreate in it, but stop for just a second and ask one question. What is the lethal dose of arsenic? Well it says that the EPA has set a limit of 0.05 ppm (50 ppb) of arsenic in drinking water, but what is the lethal dose? It is generally accepted that greater than 100 ppm parts of arsenic in food or water, can be fatal. Wait a minuet here, I thought 0.05 ppm (50 ppb) was problematic? The juice has 10 ppb or less than 80% of the regulated amount. I could be wrong, but there does not appear to be a problem, does there?

[BigWillyG]

10:13 AM on 12/05/2011

This is HP. They're never going to let facts and logic get in the way of a good tabloid horror story.

[seabeeutcn]

03:17 PM on 12/04/2011

Drink more soda.

[keedyk87]

02:58 PM on 12/04/2011

Come on now we all should be concerned with the profits of the juice makers. Forget how juice can negatively affect our health. We all know the profits of the corporations are more important than the people. Ask any Teapublican and they will tell you!

[Katie Sonneman]

02:56 PM on 12/04/2011

OF course there is arsenic in apple juice. Apple seeds have arsenic in them, so unless these companies are coring the apples, that is where it comes from. Save yourself and your child the hassle. Eat fresh fruits and veggies which are healthier and have less sugar.

[Avalyn1981]

10:49 AM on 12/30/2011

I see you didn't READ completely what was said in the article...
Yes its ORGANIC arsenic that is found in APPLE SEEDS Its INORGANIC arsenic found in these juices which is found in PESTICIDES and other processing products.

[ameliaparvaneh]

02:53 PM on 12/04/2011

Just buy an organic apple for your kid and have them eat it raw with a glass of water. There are various problems with all kinds of processed juices, and it's best to stay away from them. If you can't live without juice, buy a juicer.

[larned]

04:57 PM on 12/06/2011

According to the Consumer Reports article, the organic apple juice purchased at Whole Foods had one of the highest levels of arsenic. Example: Tropicana 15.2 ounce bottle = 1.5 to 2.1 ppb / 365 Everyday Value Organic (from Whole Foods) = 7.0 to 7.1 ppb. Even one of the samples of Walmart's generic brand tested much lower than the organic one from Whole Foods. Organic is no guarantee obviously. I agree that eating any apple (organic or not) is better than drinking the juice - less sugar and more filling due to the fiber.

[Bills Catz]

02:41 PM on 12/04/2011

This isn't possible, sorry. Surely the FDA checks everything and we have no worries! You can trust us, we're the Government, well, because the Mighty OZ has spoken that why!. BTW, did they check for radioactive isotopes as well?

[blarb]

02:33 PM on 12/04/2011

I do not buy or eat anything from china! China is trying to kill us

[jlplummer1]

02:16 PM on 12/04/2011

so according to the headline, you can get poisoned by drinking apple juice. is this like the question of How much water is in shampoo? or why the U.S. Government spent upwards of $ a great amount of money to research the mating habits of mosquetoes? and then did a follow up research why they spent the money and where it actually went which cost the taxpayers another bundle to find out that another govt agency did the same thing 20 yrs before? and the mosquetoes and the research was exactly the same?? or even the life span of a gnat? This is what you get with bigger govt. agencies that have to do something to show why they are needed and their hands into the taxpayers pockets.

[garylee123]

01:46 PM on 12/04/2011

Whats the matter juicemakers. Haven't made a contribution to the DNC yet? The last paragraph says it all. If it's such a hazard (I see words like concern and fear in the article) why does paperwork take precedent over safety? FDA....get the heck out of my life and go suck on a CFL.

[badeal]

01:33 PM on 12/04/2011

This is probably a "product of China" no doubt, like all the rest of the inferior junk that is saturating our markets. I got a bottle of Motts Apple juice a few weeks ago and I noticed when opening it in very faint print stamped on the side of the clear bottle, "product of China". What, we don't produce the best apples in the world right here? We can't make apple juice in America? It is appalling!

[ldarkspark5]

01:20 PM on 12/04/2011

Oh come on people they have been poisoning us for a long time. I've said it before and I'll say it again its just business. Now you say what business it use to be supply and demand now its demand and supply. What are they creating a demand for the healthcare industry pharmaceuticals anything that will turn a buck. The land the lakes and streams and next to last the oceans that give life to this planet, it has all been done fore a nickle. There is only one thing left to poison and that is the people. Can't say wake up people this train is so far down the track and it's gaining speed. This is the one good thing of being of the aged I might get the chance to die of natural caues. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha