Arsenic in Apple Juice: How Much Arsenic is Too Much?

Recent news about arsenic levels in apple juice and other foods may have surprised some consumers. While government statements try to calm the American public, some are not so sure arsenic in any food is okay.

Because arsenic appears naturally in soil and water, some may feel consumers should not be overly concerned about reports of arsenic in apple juice. The issue is not just arsenic, but how much arsenic is safe in apple juice or other foods.

A typical consumer may buy apple juice from a neighborhood grocery store or produce market without giving a thought to the amount of arsenic in the juice.

The FDA recently released one report about the levels of arsenic in apple juice giving information about what is considered safe. The report included the following:

But the Food and Drug Administration has every confidence in the safety of apple juice.

Donald Zink, Ph.D, senior science advisor at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), explains that arsenic is present in the environment as a naturally occurring substance or as a result of contamination from human activity. It is found in water, air, food, and soil in organic and inorganic forms.

As a result, small amounts of arsenic can be found in certain food and beverage products-including fruit juices and juice concentrates.

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Some may be able to eat foods that contain more than the approved arsenic levels without health issues. Consumers may ask if this mean some may not be able to tolerate the levels that are considered acceptable?

Consumers wanting to avoid arsenic in apple juice and other foods may want to do some research to learn the accepted levels of arsenic. Most would not agree that the levels listed on all sites are safe, preferring to avoid arsenic as much as possible.

Source:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm271394.htm