The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has implemented stricter guidelines regarding the presence of inorganic arsenic in apple juice. The target is to scale back kid’s exposure to environmental contaminants through food, as stated by the agency.

The FDA’s latest measure aligns with its decade-old advisory to reinforce safety standards by proposing a maximum limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic levels in apple juice.

Although manufacturers will not be required to follow the utmost limit, the FDA will keep testing samples to envision for higher levels of arsenic. If samples consistently show higher levels, the FDA may take motion against the corporate, considering the limit together with other aspects, CNN reported.

What Is Arsenic and Why Is It Found In Apple Juices?

The heavy presence of arsenic and lead in fruit juices is usually beyond the control of the manufacturers, in accordance with Consumer Reports. That is because they naturally occur in soil, water and air which might affect the fruits utilized in creating juices.

Nonetheless, the presence of those chemicals in most staple food options has up to now raised health concerns, particularly amongst children and pregnant women. It is because of this that the FDA hopes to encourage more manufacturers to proceed lowering arsenic levels of their products.

How Much Arsenic Do Apple Juices Often Have?

Some apple juice samples have tested below 3 ppb and 5 ppb, indicating a decrease in arsenic levels. Unfortunately, others still exceed 10 ppb, which facilitates the potential of higher contamination.

“Subsequently, we’re finalizing an motion level of 10 ppb because we consider this level achievable with the usage of good manufacturing practices,” the FDA explained. “As lower arsenic levels are more protective of public health, we expect to revisit this motion level as a part of the FDA’s Closer to Zero motion plan.”

What Other Chemicals Are In Juices?

As per a 2018 Consumer Reports test, nearly half of the tested fruit juices contained elevated levels of cadmium, inorganic arsenic, and/or lead, suggesting potential health concerns.

Brian Ronholm, food policy director at Consumer Reports, is hopeful in regards to the FDA’s recent actions in addressing food chemicals and heavy metals.

“It’s encouraging that the FDA has recently undertaken a renewed deal with addressing food chemicals and heavy metals,” he said. “Hopefully, the FDA will proceed to deal with these issues and monitor and take motion in the event that they find troubling levels of inorganic arsenic in apple juice.”

Apple Juice.
Jacob Rickard/Flickr

Published by Medicaldaily.com