Nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice that Walmart sold in its US stores have been recalled after it was discovered that they contained potentially dangerous amounts of inorganic arsenic.
After first announcing the recall on August 15, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified it as more urgent on Friday. According to the revised classification, there is a chance that the impacted product will have short-term negative health effects, but serious or permanent medical problems are unlikely.
9,535 cases of Great Value brand apple juice that were distributed in 25 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia are included in the recall. Refresco Beverages US, a Florida-based manufacturer, voluntarily recalled the six-packs of tainted 8-ounce juice bottles after finding chemical contamination levels above industry standards.
Emails seeking comment on Sunday were not immediately answered by a Refresco representative.
“Our customers’ health and safety are our top priority,” a statement from Walmart (WMT) spokesperson Molly Blakeman stated. “We are collaborating with the supplier to conduct an investigation and have removed this product from our affected stores.”
Many food products contain very low levels of both organic and inorganic arsenic, according to the National Institutes of Health. Testing is necessary because mildly elevated levels of either type can result in symptoms like cramping in the muscles, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
According to the FDA, inorganic arsenic is more harmful to humans than the naturally occurring form of the mineral arsenic, and exposure to it can have more serious health effects. Inorganic arsenic has been classified as a carcinogen, or a chemical that causes cancer, by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The FDA does not anticipate the levels in the recalled apple juice bottles to have such serious health effects because they are so low.
Reports of potential illnesses linked to the apple juice recall have not been shared by the FDA.
