newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Consumer groups are becoming concerned that the Food and Drug Administration has allowed the arsenic level in many apple juice products to become too high.

The FDA says the levels of arsenic in apple juice are low, but consumer advocates are divided on whether the level is still high enough to be harmful to children.

FDA deputy commissioner for foods Michael Taylor said, according to the Christian Science Monitor, "We think that apple juice is safe based on the fact that the vast majority of samples are very low. But we want to minimize these exposures as much as possible." He said the administration is increasing its testing and research on arsenic in apple and other juices.

NorthJersey.com reported that arsenic presents itself in two forms — organic and inorganic. The FDA considers the organic version to be harmless, while inorganic arsenic can be toxic and may pose the risk of cancer.

But according to a Consumer Reports study, the arsenic levels in juices are not necessarily harmless. About 10 percent of tested juice samples had arsenic levels that were above federal drinking-water standards, and most of the arsenic was inorganic. The inorganic arsenic was also found at higher levels in other foods during the research.

One out of four samples contained lead levels that were higher than the FDA’s limits on bottled water. And the study found that 35 percent of children 5 and younger drink more juice than recommended by pediatricians.

New Jersey Newsroom reported in September that Dr. Mehmet Oz said the results of a New Jersey lab testing of three dozen samples showed that 10 contained more arsenic than the drinking water limit. At the time, the FDA accused Oz of fear-mongering.

According to webmd.com, the Juice Products Association said, "The juice industry adheres to FDA guidelines and juice products sold will continue to meet or exceed the federal standards."