Nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice sold at Walmart stores across the U.S. have been recalled after they were found to contain potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic, according to the Associated Press. The recall is in Alabama and several other states in the Southeast.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday upgraded the recall of “Great Value” brand apple juice to Class II after announcing a voluntary recall on Aug. 15. The new classification means the affected products may temporarily pose adverse health effects but are unlikely to cause serious health problems, according to the Associated Press.
Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US is recalling 9,535 cases of apple juice sold in a total of 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
The recall applies to Great Value brand apple juice sold in packs of six, 8-ounce bottles. According to the FDA, the manufacturer voluntarily recalled the bottles after finding inorganic arsenic levels that exceeded the industry standard (13.2 ppb).
Refresco and Walmart did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
According to the National Institutes of Health, arsenic is an element that occurs naturally throughout the earth's crust and is also found in certain foods. The FDA tests foods for arsenic, prioritizing foods that young children may eat.
According to the NIH, studies have shown that inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than organic arsenic and exposure to it can have more serious health effects. Inorganic arsenic is considered a human carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer.
However, according to the Associated Press, the FDA does not expect the levels of inorganic arsenic in Great Value's apple juice to pose serious health risks, and the agency has not publicly released any reports of illnesses that may be linked to the apple juice recall.
Read the AP article.
The states affected by the recall are:
– 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