Walmart is recalling about 10,000 cases of Great Value brand apple juice in Georgia and 24 other states after the juice was found to contain high levels of inorganic arsenic, a toxic metal that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
A six-pack of Great Value's 8-ounce bottles of apple juice contained 13.2 ppb of inorganic arsenic, exceeding the Food and Drug Administration's maximum allowable limit of 10 ppb.
The FDA issued a Class II recall for this product, which means that “use of or exposure to the violative product may result in temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects.”
“The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority,” Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman said in a media statement. “We have removed this product from affected stores and are working with our supplier to investigate.”
Most of the apple juice was recalled from southern and northeastern states.
According to the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program, trace amounts of arsenic can be found in water and soil, where it can be absorbed by plants, and in the chemicals used to grow plants in the United States, where it has been found to contain arsenic.
According to the World Health Organization, inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen and can cause cancer in some cases. However, symptoms from the metal found in the apple juice recall are less severe. Short-term symptoms of arsenic poisoning usually include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and stomach pain.
The FDA notes that long-term symptoms of arsenic poisoning in children include learning disabilities, lower IQ and behavioral problems.
To prevent ingesting inorganic arsenic, the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program offers the following advice to parents: Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating, test the soil for arsenic if you grow your own fruit, and limit your general intake of fruit juices for yourself and your children.
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