Arsenic in Apple Juice Leads to Walmart Recall

Almost 10,000 cases of apple juice sold at Walmarts across the country have been voluntarily recalled by their manufacturer for elevated levels of arsenic, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Refresco Beverages product, bottled under the Great Value label, was recalled because it "contains inorganic arsenic above action level set in industry guidance (13.2ppb)," or parts per billion, according to the FDA enforcement report.

So far there have been no reported illnesses connected to the recall.

Arsenic can end up in food due to its presence in soil and water, according to the National Institutes of Health. The agency goes on to note that inorganic arsenic, the kind found in excess in this recall, is more toxic and poses greater health risks than organic arsenic.

The recall was initiated on August 15 and updated to a Class 2 recall on August 23, meaning "a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

The Great Value brand 100 percent apple juice was sold in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, according to the FDA. The recalled juice came in six-packs of 8-ounce plastic bottles.

The recalled apple juice was sold with UPC code of UPC 0-78742-29655-5. Affected juice should be returned to the store where it was purchased or thrown out.

A list of stores where the juice was sold can be found on Walmart's website .

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Sources

1. Enforcement Report. U.S. Food and Drug Administration . August 23, 2024.
2. Arsenic. National Institute of Health and Environmental Science .
3. Recalls, Corrections and Removals (Devices). U.S. Food and Drug Administration . September 20, 2020.

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Monroe Hammond

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Monroe Hammond joined Everyday Health in 2021 and now works as an editor for the news desk. They received a master's degree from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, as well as a bachelor's degree in film and media studies from Emory University in Atlanta.
Hammond has written and edited explainers on a number of health and wellness topics, including racial disparities in HIV treatment, the metabolic benefits of cold exposure, how the flu shot works, and solutions for seasonal dermatology woes. They have also edited pieces on the latest developments from NASA, the health repercussions of climate change, and the cutting edge of quantum physics. Their work has appeared in Popular Science, Insider, Psychology Today , and Health Digest, among other outlets.

Before turning to journalism, Hammond taught English while living in Thailand and Malaysia. They were born and raised in the American South, and currently live in Brooklyn with their spouse, three cats, and too many houseplants to count. See full bio See Our Editorial Policy Meet Our Health Expert Network