Walmart and a Dutch manufacturer are voluntarily recalling apple juice sold under Walmart’s “Great Value” brand due to high levels of arsenic.
The recalled products were sold in East Coast states, the southern U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to a notice updated Friday on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. They were sold in eight-ounce sizes in packs of six plastic bottles.
According to the notice, the arsenic levels were about 13 ppb, just above the 10 ppb that the FDA considers safe for ingestion. The FDA designated the recall a Class II recall, meaning it may cause temporary or “medically reversible” health effects, but the likelihood of serious health effects is low.
“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.”
Refresco said it was aware that some of its apple juice contained inorganic arsenic “slightly above” FDA guidelines and was voluntarily recalling the products as a result. The company said it had not received any complaints or reports of illnesses.
“Consumer safety and customer satisfaction are our top priorities,” the company said, “and we are working diligently to address this situation.”
According to the FDA, inorganic arsenic typically comes from contaminated drinking water. Unlike naturally occurring arsenic, which is widely present at low levels, regular exposure to or ingestion of inorganic arsenic can cause cancer and birth defects.
The Associated Press contributed.
