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US retail giant Walmart has issued a voluntary recall for almost 10,000 cases of its Great Value brand apple juice due to concerns of high arsenic levels.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall on 9,535 cases of Great Value 8oz apple juice sold in six-packs after an investigation found that the product contained “inorganic arsenic above action level set in industry guidance".

The FDA stated that Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US voluntarily recalled the item on 15 August. On 23 August, the recall was upgraded to Class II, which refers to “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,” according to the federal agency.

The recall affects Great Value apple juice packs marked with a ‘Best if Used by’ date of 28 December 2024 and with the code CT89-6 on the bottles.

The recalled apple juice was sold in nearly 30 states and regions throughout the US: 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.

Arsenic can be found in some apple juice and other fruit juices. It is a chemical that occurs in the environment from natural and manmade sources such as volcanic eruptions, arsenic-containing rocks and pesticides or contamination from mining, according to the FDA.

While all arsenic is toxic to humans, inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic and has been declared a known human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FDA says that research has shown inorganic arsenic to be "more dangerous than organic arsenic and the health effects from exposure are more severe".

Short-term exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic can result in nausea, vomiting, bruising and numbness or burning sensations in the hands and feet. For adults, long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic has been associated with skin disorders and increased risks for skin, bladder and lung cancers, and cardiovascular disease.

The FDA has not shared any reports of illnesses associated with the apple juice recall and has not issued any recommendations for Walmart customers who have been impacted by it.

In a statement provided to FoodBev, a Walmart spokesperson said: "The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority. We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are working with the supplier to investigate."

Top image: ©Walmart

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