Apple Juice and Arsenic—Back in the News Again

You probably heard about Dr. Mehmet Oz’s claim—made on his TV show and website in September--that 10 of 36 samples of apple juice he tested exceeded the arsenic level that the FDA allows for drinking and bottled water.  The FDA considered Dr. Oz’s study flawed because it didn’t differentiate between organic arsenic (most of which is relatively harmless) and the inorganic form, a known carcinogen.

Now, the whole question of the safety of apple juice (and grape juice) has become major news again after Consumer Reports research (published in the January 2012 issue) found that arsenic levels in 10% of 88 measured samples of apple juice and grape juice tested higher than the FDA’s regulation for drinking water (which is 10 parts per billion).  The FDA has not set an acceptable limit for arsenic in juice.  

The 88 samples that Consumer Reports measured were from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  The publication’s research found excessive amounts of arsenic in some samples of the following brands (among others): Apples & Eve, Walmart’s Great Value, and Mott’s. Walgreens brand and Welch’s grape juices also contained more arsenic than is acceptable in drinking water.  Moreover, most of the arsenic was the inorganic (harmful) type.

How dangerous is arsenic?  Arsenic is a poison, and high doses can kill.  However, there is good evidence that even low doses can lead to a variety of medical problems. Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D. (Director of Safety and Sustainability at Consumer Reports), speaking on NBC’s “Today,” said “The fear is that over time arsenic will accumulate in children’s bodies and raise their risk of cancer and other serious illnesses.”

Some Conclusions from the Consumer Reports Study:

-          10% of the juice samples (from 5 brands) had total arsenic levels exceeding federal drinking-water standards of 10 parts per billion (ppb).

-          25% had lead levels higher than the FDA’s 5-ppb limit for bottled water.

-          Most of the arsenic detected was the inorganic (harmful) type.

-          35% of children age 5 and younger drink juice in higher quantities than pediatricians recommend.  

-         The article mentions that, according to the World Health Organization, over 5-20 years, chronic arsenic exposure could increase the risk of various cancers, high blood pressure, diabetes, and reproductive problems. 

What can parents do?

Here are recommendations from Consumer Reports and Consumers Union:

-          Limit children’s juice consumption.  Follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here they are:  infants under the age of 6 months: no juice; children under 6: no more than 4-6 ounces daily; older children, no more than 8-12 ounces daily.  Diluting juice with distilled or purified water is also recommended, not only because of arsenic and lead but also because juice is high in sugar and calories, so too much can contribute to obesity and cavities.

-          Diversify the brands you buy since one brand may have less arsenic than another.

-          Test your water. This is especially important if your water comes from a private well. Test for both arsenic and lead.

-          If levels are too high, consider purchasing a home-treatment system that will lower arsenic levels to under 10 ppb. For more info on this, phone 800-673-8010.

-          Consider the food sources of arsenic. Organic chicken “makes sense” because it prohibits chicken feed with synthetic fertilizers and most pesticides. 

-         Get tested. If you are concerned that you and/or your children have been exposed to too much arsenic, a urine test can provide answers. 

The FDA’s recent response:

In late November, FDA acknowledged that a University of Arizona study and its own research found at east nine samples of apple juice with mostly inorganic arsenic.  The FDA said that it is now “seriously considering” setting guidelines for inorganic arsenic in apple juice.  The agency has also said that two types of organic arsenic found in apple juice are also considered harmful, so it will continue to monitor those along with the inorganic forms.

Quoted in the Chicago Tribune, Dr. Urvashi Rangan (from Consumer Reports) praised the FDA for doing a lot of thinking about this matter since September.  “We are encouraged by this… I think they are coming around to acknowledging the fact that this is an issue they need to look at more closely.”

In a recent NBC report, the FDA stated that none of the juices were above the 23 ppb level, which the FDA considers the “level of concern.”  The acceptable arsenic level for juice is higher than for water because the assumption is that most people drink more water than juice.  However, for children, that may not be the case.  (Note: the Consumers Union wants the limit to be 3 ppb because a large part of the market is children.)

Both the FDA and the Juice Processors Association have stated that they will increase surveillance of juice and that they are willing to adjust acceptable levels if new information indicates that their current allowable levels are too high.

From the Dr. Oz website:

 “American apple juice is made from apple concentrate, 60% of which is imported from China.  Other countries may use pesticides that contain arsenic, a heavy metal known to cause cancer. After testing dozens of samples from three different cities in America, Dr. Oz discovered that some of the nation’s best known brands of apple juice contain arsenic.”  His website presents research results, responses from juice companies, and information for consumers about how to buy “the safest juice for your family.”  He also requested the FDA to set a limit for total arsenic in apple juice at 10 parts per billion.

The FDA’s response in September 2011:

The FDA’s response to Dr. Oz appeared online in an article with this snappy title: “Getting to the Core of the Issue: Apple Juice and Arsenic.”  Here are some of the Q/As from this piece:

 “Why is there arsenic in fruit juice products?

Arsenic is present in the environment as a naturally occurring substance and as a result of contamination from human activity, such as from the use of certain pesticides and fertilizers. It is found in water, air, food and soil.

There are two types of arsenic: organic and inorganic. The inorganic forms of arsenic are the harmful forms, while the organic forms of arsenic are essentially harmless. Because both forms of arsenic have been found in soil and ground water, small amounts may be found in certain food and beverage products, including fruit juices and juice concentrates.

What is the FDA doing to protect the public against arsenic in fruit juice products?

The FDA has been testing for arsenic contamination in juice products for several years as part of FDA programs that look for harmful substances in food. We have been aggressively testing samples of both domestic and imported fruit juices and juice concentrates, and have not found evidence that juice is unsafe for consumers, young or old. 

I have heard reports of test results showing high levels of arsenic in apple juice products. Are they true?

Unless we can determine that the test methods used were for inorganic arsenic and that the method was accurate and properly performed, we are not able to specifically address the test results. It is important to remember that test results for total arsenic do not distinguish between the essentially harmless organic forms of arsenic and the harmful inorganic forms of arsenic. It would be inappropriate to draw conclusions about the safety of a product based on the total arsenic level. 

When the FDA wants to determine if a food has unsafe levels of arsenic, we test the food specifically for the harmful, inorganic forms of arsenic. It is common to test for total arsenic as a quick and easy way of seeing how much arsenic is in the sample. However, a total arsenic test does not tell us how much inorganic arsenic is in the sample. In fact, organic arsenic can make up the bulk of When the FDA wants to determine if a food has unsafe levels of arsenic, we test the food total arsenic in some foods. If you want to know if there are harmful amounts of arsenic in the sample, you must test specifically for inorganic arsenic. 

Does the FDA have a response to the information recently reported on the Dr. Oz Show?

The FDA is aware of the episode of the Dr. Oz Show that aired on Sept. 12, 2011, where test results for arsenic in apple juice were discussed. The FDA has reviewed the test results performed by EMSL Analytical, Inc., on behalf of the Dr. Oz Show, and we can confirm that the results that were revealed are for total arsenic. The results do not distinguish between the essentially harmless organic forms of arsenic and the harmful inorganic forms of arsenic. Therefore, these results cannot be used to determine whether there is an unsafe amount of arsenic in the juice tested by the Dr. Oz Show.

It is inappropriate to draw conclusions about the safety of a food based on the total arsenic level since in most instances organic arsenic, which again is essentially harmless and not absorbed by the body, makes up the bulk of the total arsenic in foods like juice.” 

To read more Q/As from the above article, click here: http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/apple_juice_and_arsenic.html

(Thanks for research assistance from Dr. Joe Regenstein, Dr. Catherine Cutter, and Dr. Luke LaBorde.)

To see the first Shelf Life Advice coverage of this issue, click here.

Source(s):

Consumer Reports Magazine “Arsenic in your juice: How much is too much?  Federal limits don’t exist.”  January 2012.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/01/arsenic-in-your-juice/index.htm

Chicago Tribune “Arsenic in apple juice: Seeking answers” December 2, 2011.

foodsafety.gov “Getting to the Core of the Issue: Apple Juice and Arsenic”

http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/apple_juice_and_arsenic.html

Huffingtonpost.com “High Arsenic Levels in Apple Juice, Grape Juice Samples, Consumer Reports Finds”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/30/high-arsenic-levels-apple-juice_n_1121232.html

Droz.com “Arsenic in Apple Juice: Dr. Oz’s Extensive National Investigation”

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/arsenic-apple-juice   

fda.gov “Apple Juice Is Safe to Drink”

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm271394.htm