Truly support
independent journalism
Our mission is to provide unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds the powerful to account and exposes the truth.
Whether it's $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us in offering journalism without agenda.
Walmart has recalled nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice sold across the United States due to elevated levels of arsenic.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that 9,535 eight-ounce cases of Great Value apple juice sold in six-packs were recalled after an investigation found the product contained “inorganic arsenic above the action level established in industry guidelines.”
The FDA said Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US Inc. voluntarily recalled the product on Aug. 15. Earlier this week, the recall was upgraded to Class II, which refers to “a situation where use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the likelihood of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” according to the federal agency.
The recalled apple juice was sold in nearly 30 states and regions across the United States: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington DC and West Virginia.
The recall affects Great Value apple juice packages marked with a best-before date of Dec. 28, 2024, and code CT89-6 on the bottles.
While all arsenic (a naturally occurring mineral) is toxic to humans, inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic arsenic and has been declared a known human carcinogen, causing cancer, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Research has shown that “inorganic arsenic is more hazardous than organic arsenic and the health effects from exposure are more severe,” according to the FDA.
Short-term exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic can cause nausea, vomiting, bruising, and numbness or a burning sensation in the hands and feet. In adults, long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic has been associated with skin disorders and an increased risk of skin, bladder, and lung cancers, and cardiovascular disease.
The FDA did not provide reports of possible injuries associated with the apple juice recall, nor did it provide recommendations for Walmart customers who were affected by it.
The Independent has contacted Walmart for comment.
