Arsenic in apple juice: FDA proposes a lower limit, amid consumer concern
Arsenic in apple juice would be limited to the same level as arsenic in drinking water, under a proposed rule from the US Food and Drug Administration. FDA analysis of dozens of apple juice samples found 95 percent already meet that standard.
The US Food and Drug Administration responded to concerns from consumer groups Friday by limiting the amount of arsenic in apple juice to the same level currently permitted in drinking water.
"Overall the supply of apple juice is very safe and does not represent a threat to public health," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said. "We decided to put forward this proposed action level to give guidance to industry and to assure ongoing safety and quality."
The FDA faced pressure for more than a year from groups worried about the contaminant’s effects on children. In particular, reports by Dr. Mehmet Oz of the "Dr. Oz Show" and Consumer Reports raised concerns with parents that the levels of arsenic could lead to deadly diseases later in life.
