Controversy Rages About How Much Arsenic Is Safe in Apple Juice

Controversy Rages About How Much Arsenic Is Safe in Apple Juice

FDA is proposing a new rule of 10 parts per billion as a safe level for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. This is the identical level that FDA set for drinking water years ago. At this time, there is no standard for apple juice, but many stakeholders are concerned about how arsenic in apple juice can affect the growth and development of children.

There are growing safety concerns over arsenic in apple juice, after a study by Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2011. He found that some of the most well known apple juice brands have arsenic in them. He got a good deal of criticism for worrying parents without reason.

At the time, Dr. Richard Besser, a top executive at the CDC, criticized Oz on national TV. He called the report very irresponsible, as the study only was looking at the total levels of arsenic. Essentially, he said that the study was not able to distinguish between organic and inorganic arsenic. The latter is the one that is a carcinogen and is a potential danger to children.

Arsenic is naturally present in our environment and in many foods, such as chicken, rice and beans. Also, past use of pesticides with arsenic in them led to higher concentrations of the substance in soils. And, many brands of apple juice in the US are made with Chinese apples.

Consumer Reports also released a report that stated that 10% of juice samples have total arsenic levels that were higher than the standards for drinking water. Consumer Reports also warned that most of that arsenic was carcinogenic.

In proposing the new standard, FDA stated that it has studied this issue for years, and based upon data from the agency, FDA thinks that that level is the ideal safe level of arsenic in apple juice. FDA often issues warnings and draft guidances on products and issues that it believes could adversely affect public health.

Consumer Reports was pleased to see the new proposed level of 10 parts per billion for arsenic in apple juice. It believes that this is a good step to protect consumers from the dangers of arsenic.

Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton & Favalorois a Virginia personal injury law firm that often blogs about FDA food and drug safety issues.