WASHINGTON (AP) — Walmart is recalling about 10,000 cases of apple juice sold in stores across the U.S. after it was found to contain potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic.
of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Recall More urgent classification The announcement was made on Friday after an initial announcement was made on Aug. 15. The new classification says the affected products may pose a temporary adverse health effect but are unlikely to cause serious or irreversible medical problems.
The recall applies to 9,535 cases of Great Value brand apple juice sold in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US Inc. voluntarily recalled six-packs of tainted 8-ounce (227-gram) juice bottles after finding levels of a chemical contaminant that exceeded industry standards.
A Refresco spokesman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Sunday.
“The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority,” Walmart spokeswoman Molly Blakeman said in a statement. “We have removed this product from affected stores and are working with our supplier to investigate.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, many foods contain very low levels of inorganic and organic arsenic, and testing is done routinely because even slightly elevated levels of either form of arsenic can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness and muscle cramps.
According to the FDA, inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than the naturally occurring mineral arsenic, and exposure to it can have more serious health effects. The Environmental Protection Agency has designated inorganic arsenic a carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer.
The levels found in the recalled apple juice bottles are low enough that the FDA doesn't expect them to pose any significant health risks.
The FDA has not publicly released reports of illnesses possibly linked to the apple juice recall.