Walmart has announced a recall of approximately 10,000 cases of Great Value brand apple juice sold across the United States after testing found potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increased the urgency of the recall on Friday, following an initial announcement on Aug. 15. The FDA said that while the tainted juice may pose temporary adverse health effects, it is unlikely to lead to serious or long-term health problems.
The recall affects 9,535 cases of apple juice sold in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The product, sold in packs of six, 8-ounce bottles, was manufactured by Florida-based Refresco Beverages US Inc., which voluntarily initiated the recall after discovering that the product contained arsenic in amounts that exceeded industry standards.
“The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority,” Walmart spokeswoman Molly Blakeman said. “We have removed this product from our stores and are working with our supplier to investigate.”
Many foods contain trace amounts of inorganic and organic arsenic, but in higher concentrations it can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness, and muscle cramps. The more toxic inorganic arsenic is classified as a carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The FDA has assured that the levels of inorganic arsenic found in the recalled apple juice are not expected to pose a serious health risk. To date, no illnesses have been reported related to the recall.