Walmart has initiated a large-scale recall of nearly 10,000 cases of its Great Value brand apple juice following the discovery of potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic. The recall, which affects stores across 25 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, was announced after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified levels of the chemical contaminant exceeding industry safety standards.
The recall was initially made public on August 15, but the FDA escalated the situation on Friday, giving the recall a Class II designation. This classification indicates that while the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, the likelihood of severe or irreversible health issues is low. However, the elevated arsenic levels are concerning enough to warrant immediate action.
The affected product consists of six-packs of 8-ounce plastic bottles of Great Value apple juice, manufactured by Refresco Beverages US, a Florida-based company with Dutch origins. The contaminated juice was found to contain approximately 13 parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic, slightly above the FDA's safety threshold of 10 ppb.
"The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority," said Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman in a statement. "We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are working closely with the supplier to investigate the cause of this contamination."
Inorganic arsenic is notably more hazardous than its naturally occurring counterpart. While both forms of arsenic are found in many food products at low levels, inorganic arsenic, which can often be traced back to contaminated drinking water, poses a significantly higher risk. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen, meaning it has the potential to cause cancer with prolonged exposure.
Despite the elevated levels of arsenic found in the recalled apple juice, the FDA has stated that the levels are low enough that they do not expect the product to cause severe health consequences. Symptoms of arsenic exposure can include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness, and muscle cramping. However, there have been no reported cases of illness related to this recall.
Refresco Beverages US, the manufacturer responsible for producing the recalled apple juice, has not yet commented on the issue. The company, which operates its U.S. headquarters in Tampa, Florida, is working with Walmart and the FDA to identify the source of the contamination and prevent future occurrences.
