Apple juice lovers, take note—over 9,500 cases of 100% apple juice sold at Walmart have been yanked from shelves due to arsenic levels that are too high for comfort.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has escalated the recall status of this juice, initially issued on August 15, from unclassified to Class 2.
This classification signals that while the product might cause temporary or reversible health issues, it’s unlikely to lead to severe consequences.
Still, the message is clear: this isn’t something you want in your fridge.
Refresco Beverages US Inc., the company behind Walmart’s Great Value brand, voluntarily recalled the juice after tests revealed inorganic arsenic levels slightly above the FDA’s action level of 10 parts per billion (ppb).
The company has assured that no illnesses have been reported, but they’re not taking any chances.
The FDA notes that preventing arsenic from sneaking into our food supply is an uphill battle, but consistent efforts are made to keep it to a minimum.
In this case, the juice in question—packaged in six-packs of 8-ounce plastic bottles with a UPC code of 0-78742-29655-5 and a “Best if used by” date of DEC2824 CT89-6—was found to have 13.2 ppb of inorganic arsenic.
For the business at the heart of this issue, Refresco insists that consumer safety is their top priority and they’re moving swiftly to rectify the situation.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities in ensuring food safety, particularly when it comes to common contaminants like arsenic.
As the FDA and companies like Refresco work to mitigate these risks, it’s clear that vigilance remains key in protecting public health.
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