Walmart Issues Recall for Apple Juice Over Arsenic Contamination

Walmart has announced a recall of apple juice due to the presence of potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic. This decision follows a prior announcement made on August 15.

The recall received an updated classification on Friday, indicating that the affected product may result in temporary adverse health effects but is not expected to lead to serious or irreversible medical issues.

Specifically, the recall pertains to 9,535 cases of Great Value brand apple juice that were sold across 25 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. The contamination was identified by the Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US Inc., which has voluntarily recalled the affected six-packs of 8-ounce juice bottles after discovering arsenic levels that surpassed industry safety standards.

As reported, both Walmart and Refresco did not provide immediate comments when contacted regarding the matter.

The National Institutes of Health states that very low levels of inorganic and organic arsenic can be found in various food products. Regular testing is conducted, as even slightly elevated levels can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness, and muscle cramps.

It is important to note that inorganic arsenic is deemed more toxic to humans compared to its chemically similar, naturally occurring counterpart. The FDA has classified inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen, which is a substance capable of causing cancer.

Despite the detection of inorganic arsenic in the recalled juice, the FDA has assessed that the levels present are not likely to result in severe health implications. No reports of illness related to this apple juice recall have been released by the FDA.