Apple Juice Arsenic Recall Expanded to Include Weis, Walgreens, BJ’s and Aldi’s Brand Products

Following a Walmart apple juice recall issued late last month, due to high levels of the known carcinogen arsenic, Refresco Beverages has initiated an additional voluntary recall that impacts other versions of its juices sold at Weis, Walgreens, BJ’s and Aldi’s stores.

Unlike organic arsenic which can quickly pass through the human body and is generally not harmful, inorganic arsenic found in the apple juice is a toxic substance, especially when an individual is exposed to it at high levels or over long periods of time. Side effects of exposure have been linked to a number of serious adverse health conditions, including cancer, heart disease and death.

The presence of inorganic arsenic in apple juice products is particularly concerning, since the compound can be extremely harmful for children, impacting brain development and IQ, as well as potentially leading to long term cancer risks.

Refresco Beverages issued the expanded apple juice arsenic recall notice on September 9, indicating that the problems not only impact Great Value apple juice sold at Walmart stores, but also impacts store brands sold by Weis, Walgreens, BJ’s and Aldi’s, including Nice!, Urban Meadow, Natures Nectar, Wellsley Farms, Solevita, Clover Valley and Tropical Delight apple juice brands.

Like the previous apple juice recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also categorized this expansion as a Class II recall, meaning that consumption of the beverages will not likely lead to serious health consequences, but may negatively impact individuals’ health over a shorter time period.

However, consumers should keep in mind that the amount of arsenic in these beverages could still be nearly 33% higher than guidance levels set by the FDA. Acceptable amounts of inorganic arsenic in foods and drinks were lowered by the FDA in mid-2023, after toxic levels of arsenic and other metals were found in a number of baby food products, raising concerns about the impact of those products on children in particular.

Refresco Beverages Apple Juice Recall

The current recall now affects 141,298 cases of apple juice sold at various retailers under different brand names, including Great Value, Market Basket, Nice!, Weis, Urban Meadow, Natures Nectar, Wellesley Farms, Solevita, Clover Valley and Tropical Delight, all of which were made with tainted concentrate from an outside supplier.

The products were sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The affected cases include the following products, best by dates and product codes:

• Great Value 8 oz. bottles, with best if used by dates of December 26, 2024 and December 27, 2024, and product code CT89-6
• Great Value 96 oz. bottles, with best if used by dates of December 26, 2024, December 27, 2024 and December 28, 2024, and product code CT89-5
• Market Basket 100% apple juice, with sell by date of March 25, 2025, and product code CT89-1
• Nice! 100% apple juice, with best by date of March 25, 2025, and product code CT89-1
• Weis 100% apple juice, with best by date of March 25, 2025, and product code CT89-1
• Urban Meadow 100% apple juice, with best by date of March 26, 2025, and product code CT89-1
• Natures Nectar 100% apple juice, with best by date of March 26, 2025 and March 27, 2025, and product code CT89-4
• Wellsley Farms 100% apple juice, with best by date of March 26, 2025, and product code CT89-5
• Solevita 100% apple juice, with best by date of March 27, 2025, and product code CT89-4
• Clover Valley 100% apple juice, with best by date of March 27, 2025, and product code CT89-4
• Tropical Delight 100% apple juice, with best by date of July 25, 2025

Refresco Beverages says that no incidents or injuries have yet been reported as a result of the inorganic arsenic in apple juice products they sold.  However, they are encouraging all customers and consumers to use FDA recall information to determine if they are still in possession of the affected beverages.

“The safety of consumers is always our top priority,” Refresco said. “(O)ut of an abundance of caution, we voluntarily initiated a recall of some select lots of 100% apple juice products produced using supplier provided concentrate when we became aware that previously manufactured product contained inorganic arsenic slightly above the FDA’s 10 ppb (parts per billion) action level as set by the FDA in June 2023 in the FDA Final Guidance to Industry on Action Level for Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice.”

Retail distribution centers that believe they are still in possession of the affected apple juice can call the company at 1-888-260-3776 and press 2. Consumers with questions are encouraged to call 1-888-260-3776 and press 3.