A recent apple juice recall will expand to include other major food retailers across the United States. The initial voluntary recall began at the end of August by the Food and Drug Administration. The recall primarily affected Great Value Apple Juice.
According to the report, the FDA found that the apple juice products had “inorganic arsenic above action level set in guidance to industry.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), short-term exposure to arsenic can lead to conditions including arsenic poisoning, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Long-term exposure can lead to various cancers such as lung and bladder cancer, and other illnesses including diabetes, pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease.
The recall initially affected over 10,000 cases of juice in Walmart stores in 25 states and other territories, including Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the recall has since extended to multiple food retailers. The number of affected cases has now ballooned to 133,500, involving Great Value Juice and other private labels in retailers such as Aldi, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Market Basket, Walgreens, and Weis Markets.
Refresco Beverages US, the company that produces Great Value Apple Juice, released a statement on September 9th. In the statement, they expressed their determination to rectify the situation.
“The safety of consumers is always our top priority. On August 23, 2024, out of an abundance of caution, we voluntarily initiated a recall of some select lots of 100% apple juice products produced using supplier-provided concentrate when we became aware that previously manufactured products contained inorganic arsenic slightly above the FDA’s 10 ppb (parts per billion) action level as set by the FDA in June 2023 in the FDA Final Guidance to Industry on Action Level for Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice,” the statement read.
“We are working diligently to address the situation and encourage consumers to check the FDA’s recall list… and use the information on their site to determine if they have products that fall within this proactive, voluntary recall,” they concluded.
Those curious about which products the recall has affected should head over to the official list on the FDA’s website.
