In September 2011, television’s Dr. Mehmet Oz claimed that apple juice frequently contains dangerous levels of arsenic. Later, Consumer Reports conducted a study that proved the claim true. Researchers found that 10 percent of sampled juice contained arsenic and lead levels that exceeded federal standards. Juice was purchased from grocery stores in New York, New Jersey, and Conneticut, and the brands analyzed included Apple & Eve, Great Value, Mott’s, Walgreens and Welch’s.
So what does that mean for your family, healthwise? Inorganic arsenic is poisonousand can cause cancer. Exposure to arsenic over a lengthy period of time can also damage a person’s brain and kidneys, which are also potential problems from lead exposure. Though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration places limits on arsenic and lead levels in bottled water, none exist for fruit juices. Now, the advocacy group Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is asking the FDA to act on juices.
As Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing editor of FoxNews,.com put it, “I don’t want to sound like an alarmist, but just look at the growing levels of learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and other diseases that seem so prevalent today as compared to decades ago.”
It is frightening to believe something so dangerous as arsenic-tainted fruit juice is in the refrigerators of many families. As the studies and reports continue to come out, we’ll keep you updated on the risks, and whether the FDA will choose to limit the legal level of inorganic arsenic allowed in fruit juice.
CD