WASHINGTON — Walmart has recalled nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice sold in stores across the U.S. that were found to contain potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic.
The US Food and Drug Administration gave the recall a more urgent classification Friday, following the original announcement on August 15. The new classification indicated that the affected product may cause temporary adverse health effects, but is unlikely to cause serious or irreversible medical problems.
The recall affects 9,535 cases of Great Value brand apple juice sold in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US Inc. voluntarily recalled the contaminated six-packs of 8-ounce (227-gram) juice bottles after levels of the chemical contaminant were discovered that exceeded industry standards.
Spokespeople for Refresco and Walmart did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on Sunday.
According to the National Institutes of Health, very low levels of inorganic and organic arsenic are found in most food products. Testing is routine, as slightly elevated levels of either form can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness and muscle cramps.
According to the FDA, inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than the naturally occurring form of the mineral arsenic, and the health effects of exposure are more severe. The Environmental Protection Agency has labeled inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen, or a substance that causes cancer.
The concentrations found in the recalled apple juice bottles are so low that the FDA does not expect them to cause such serious health effects.
The FDA has not shared any reports of possible illnesses linked to the apple juice recall.