Walmart has expanded its voluntary recall of apple juice products due to elevated arsenic levels, following an initial recall issued last month. The updated recall now includes 133,500 cases of apple juice from Refresco Beverages, which were sold at Walmart, Aldi, Walgreens, and other retailers. This expansion builds on the earlier recall of nearly 10,000 cases, which was limited to Walmart stores.
The expanded recall affects a variety of brands and sizes of apple juice.
Specific products include Great Value 8-ounce apple juice six-packs and 96-ounce bottles sold at Walmart in states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Market Basket 100% apple juice in 64-ounce containers sold in Maine, Nice! 100% apple juice in 64-ounce containers sold at Walgreens in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and Weis 100% apple juice in 64-ounce containers sold in Maryland and Pennsylvania are also included. Other affected brands are Urban Meadow, Nature’s Nectar, Wellsley Farms, Solevita, and Clover Valley, with various sizes and distribution locations.
The FDA has set an action level of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for arsenic in apple juice, a threshold that aims to protect public health by limiting arsenic exposure.
Arsenic can be found in food due to its presence in the environment where foods are grown, raised, or processed. It may occur naturally or result from human activities such as the use of arsenic-containing pesticides or pollution from mining, fracking, and coal-fired power plants.
Exposure to inorganic arsenic is linked to serious health issues, including cancer, diabetes, adverse birth outcomes, and cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental effects.
While it is not possible to completely remove arsenic from the environment or food supply, the FDA’s action levels help manage contamination and ensure food safety.
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