Walmart has recalled nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice sold in stores across the United States that were found to contain potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic.
The FDA gave the recall a more urgent designation on Friday after originally announcing it on Aug. 15. The new designation said the affected product may cause temporary adverse health effects but is unlikely to cause serious or irreversible medical problems.
The recall includes 9,535 Great Value apple juice cases sold in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Florida-based Refresco Beverages US Inc. voluntarily recalled the six-pack of 8-ounce cases of the contaminated juice after discovering levels of the chemical contaminant exceeding industry standards.
A Refresco spokesman did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Sunday.
“The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority,” Walmart spokeswoman Molly Blackman said in a statement. “We have removed this product from our affected stores and are working with the supplier to investigate.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, very low levels of inorganic and organic arsenic have been found in many food products. Testing is routine, as even slightly elevated levels of either form can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness, and muscle cramps.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than the natural form of metallic arsenic, and the health effects from exposure to it are more severe. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen, or a substance that causes cancer.
The levels in the recalled apple juice bottles are low enough that the FDA does not expect them to cause such serious health consequences.
The FDA has not shared reports of potential illnesses linked to the apple juice recall.
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