"Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed."
- USDA's MyPlate Food Guidance System
Toxicologist Gail Charnley, Ph.D., answers questions about apple juice safety.
Q&A Regarding Apple Juice Safety
Are media reports about arsenic in apple juice true?
Is it safe to drink apple juice?
What do reports about arsenic in apple juice really mean?
Is it true that some apple juice products contain more arsenic than drinking water?
What are the current FDA limits for arsenic in apple juice?
What are companies doing and what is the industry doing, to assure the safety of apple juice?
How can I trust the safety of the juice my family drinks?
Does juice concentrate produced in countries other than the U.S. pose a greater risk to consumers?
Is any amount of arsenic in food or drinks safe to consume?
Are other juices safer than apple juice?
Do other juices contain arsenic?
Do organic juices contain arsenic?
Should I stop drinking fruit juice?
Why are these reports of arsenic coming out at this time?
Are media reports about arsenic in apple juice true?
Arsenic occurs in the environment in which we live. It is found in the earth and soil all over the world. It is present in low levels in the crops we grow and the air we breathe. These environmental levels vary widely and in unpredictable ways.
Because there is no known way of removing these low levels of arsenic from apples or from the juice production process without destroying desired characteristics of the fruit or the juice, the juice industry carefully and continuously tests its apple juice to assure the presence of arsenic is below the level that may pose a health risk to consumers.
The juice industry is aware that there are different perspectives on what level of arsenic is safe. It is for precisely this reason that we look to the most qualified, expert, independent and objective third party, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to make that determination.
There is a maximum safe level standard, contrary to what some media outlets have reported. Technically known as a “level of concern” by the FDA, the standard calls for a maximum level of inorganic arsenic in apple juice of 23 parts per billion (ppb). If this level is exceeded, FDA considers the product adulterated and subject to enforcement action to remove it from the marketplace. This is further explained in a letter from an FDA official at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/. The Federal government conducts import and domestic surveillance testing of juice for arsenic and juice producers continuously test their juices as well.
In addition, some of the apple juice test results reported by media outlets were based on improper testing methods. Chemical and Engineering News recently reported, “FDA questioned the findings reported last fall by The Dr. Oz Show. When FDA measured samples from the same lot of one of the brands, (FDA Scientist William) Mindak said its scientists found much lower arsenic concentrations, by a factor of four to five. Mindak undertook a study to figure out why the labs’ results differed so much. He found that the contract lab, which did not regularly perform food analysis, had used a modified wastewater method, which called for larger sample volumes than FDA’s method. As a consequence, the apple juice was inadequately digested to remove carbon, which enhances the arsenic measurement.”
Is it safe to drink apple juice?
Yes. Apple juice is a safe and nutritious beverage for people of all ages. Consumers can be assured that apple juice processors are carefully testing their products for safety and data collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicate there is no safety concern for apple juice.
What do reports about arsenic in apple juice really mean?
Naturally occurring elements such as arsenic are present in the soil, air and water. Therefore, arsenic is found in very low, harmless levels in many foods and beverages.
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Is it true that some apple juice products contain more arsenic than drinking water?
Drinking water standards should not be used as the benchmark for testing for arsenic in foods and beverages. Regulatory agencies have set lower thresholds for drinking water than for food and other beverages because people consume larger amounts of water. Additionally, the FDA has established specific testing methodologies that should be used for testing juice. These test methods are different than those for water because juice contains many more naturally occurring compounds.
What are the current FDA limits for arsenic in apple juice?
The FDA has established what it calls a “level of concern” at 23 parts per billion (ppb) for the presence of inorganic arsenic in pear juice and apple juice. Two forms of arsenic -- organic and inorganic -- are found in trace levels in many foods and beverages that are derived from nature. The FDA monitors levels of inorganic arsenic in apple juice because organic arsenic presents no toxicity. Through its comprehensive Total Diet Study program, the Food and Drug Administration evaluates the levels of trace elements, nutrients and other substances in a wide variety of foods and beverages. The purpose of the Study is to monitor levels of substances in the U.S. food supply and estimate their dietary intakes in the U.S. population. Data related to arsenic in apple juice, as well as for many other foods, have been routinely collected for the Total Diet Study since 1991. The most recent Total Diet Study data available, 2006 – 2008, shows the average arsenic content of bottled apple juice is 5 parts per billion (ppb), well below the FDA level of concern.
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What are companies doing and what is the industry doing, to assure the safety of apple juice?
The safety and quality of the beverages produced by the members of the Juice Products Association are our top priority. All juice companies must comply with FDA regulations known as the juice HACCP, meaning Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point. The HACCP regulation requires juice companies to evaluate their processes, ingredients and packaging, and monitor for biological, physical and chemical risks that could possibly occur in food processing. Juice processing facilities are inspected by federal and state agencies.
How can I trust the safety of the juice my family drinks?
The FDA conducts sampling of juice and juice concentrates and that data indicate no safety concerns. The juice industry also does its own testing to ensure its products meet or exceed government guidelines and are safe for consumers to enjoy.
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Does juice concentrate produced in countries other than the U.S. pose a greater risk to consumers?
No. Regardless of country of origin, all juice products sold in the U.S. must be safe and are subject to the HACCP requirements. In addition, the FDA and individual juice producers regularly monitor and test imported fruit juice to assure its safety.
Is any amount of arsenic in food or drinks safe to consume?
Arsenic is not harmful in the trace amounts that it is found in naturally sourced foods and beverages. Federal regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluate scientific data to determine levels that are safe in foods and beverages. The data collected by the FDA indicate there is no safety concern for apple juice or juice concentrate.
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Are other juices safer than apple juice?
All juices sold in America are subject to rigorous food safety regulations and are safe for people of all ages.
Do other juices contain arsenic?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in the soil, water and air. It can be present in trace amounts in many foods and beverages that are derived from natural sources.
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Do organic juices contain arsenic?
Both conventionally produced and organically produced fruit juices are safe and may contain trace levels of arsenic that are not harmful.
Should I stop drinking fruit juice?
Absolutely not. There are many benefits from drinking 100% fruit juice. Fruit juice is a nourishing beverage that counts as a serving of fruit and is a healthful addition to a well-balanced diet.
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What exactly is arsenic?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in our environment. It is widely distributed within the earth’s crust, in rocks and metals, and also occurs in combination with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur. It enters the environment through both natural and manmade sources.
Why are these reports of arsenic coming out at this time?
Misleading media reports that compare arsenic levels in juice to those in water create sensationalized headlines that attract attention but needlessly frighten consumers. In a recent incident, the FDA and a nationally recognized independent lab conducted subsequent testing of juice from one of the same companies singled out by media and found the juice to be completely safe.
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