Walmart has recalled nearly 10,000 cases of its Great Value brand apple juice in 25 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, due to concerns about potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.
The recall, which originally began on Aug. 15, was heightened by the FDA on Friday due to the potential health risks associated with the contaminated product. The affected apple juice, sold in six-packs of 8-ounce bottles, was manufactured by Florida-based Refresco Beverages US Inc. The company voluntarily recalled 9,535 cases after finding arsenic levels that exceeded industry standards.
“The health and safety of our customers is always our highest priority,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement. “We have removed this product from our affected stores and are working with the supplier to investigate.”
Although inorganic arsenic is more toxic than its naturally occurring counterpart, the FDA determined that the amounts found in the recalled apple juice are not expected to cause serious or irreversible health problems. However, exposure to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and muscle cramps. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen, meaning it has the potential to cause cancer.
The FDA has not received any reports of illnesses associated with the recalled apple juice.
The recall affects Walmart stores in the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia, as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico.
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