Walmart and a Dutch manufacturer are voluntarily recalling apple juice sold under Walmart’s “Great Value” brand due to high levels of arsenic.
According to an updated notice Friday on the Food and Drug Administration’s website, the recalled products were sold in states on the Eastern and Southern coasts of the United States, as well as in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They were sold in 8-ounce bottles and six-pack plastic bottles.
The notice said the arsenic levels, at about 13 parts per billion (ppb), were slightly higher than the 10 ppb the FDA considered safe for consumption. The agency classified the recall as a Class II, meaning it may cause temporary or “medically reversible” adverse health consequences, but the likelihood of serious adverse health consequences is low.
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” Walmart spokeswoman Molly Blakeman said in a statement. “We have removed this product from our affected stores and are working with the supplier to investigate.”
Refresco said it had been notified that some shipments of its apple juice contained levels of inorganic arsenic “slightly above” FDA recommendations and were being voluntarily recalled as a result. It said it had not received any reports of complaints or illnesses.
“Consumer safety and customer satisfaction are our top priorities,” the company said. “We are working diligently to address the situation.”
According to the FDA, inorganic arsenic can commonly be found in contaminated drinking water. Unlike naturally occurring arsenic, which is common in low concentrations, regular exposure to or consumption of inorganic arsenic can cause cancer and birth defects.
The Associated Press contributed.
