Walmart Great Value Apple Juice Recall Issued Over Harmful Levels of Arsenic

A recall has been issued for Walmart’s Great Value apple juice sold at stores throughout the United States, which contain dangerous levels of arsenic that exceed amounts the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers to be safe.

The FDA announced the Great Value apple juice recall on August 15, after testing determined that samples contain 13.2 parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic, which can pose a risk of cancer and affect brain development in children.

The amounts detected are nearly 33% higher than the FDA arsenic guidelines, which indicate that any levels over 10 ppb are potentially harmful, especially for babies and young children.

On August 23, the FDA updated the Walmart apple juice recall to categorize the action as a Class II recall, suggesting that consumption of the products may cause reversible health consequences. However, there may be a remote probability of serious injuries, according to the designation.

Arsenic is a known human carcinogen measured according to organic and inorganic levels. Although organic arsenic quickly passes through the human body and is generally not harmful, inorganic arsenic is toxic at high levels or over long periods of time, and has been associated with many long term adverse health effects, including cancer, heart disease and death.

Federal health officials lowered the acceptable amounts of inorganic arsenic in foods and drinks in mid-2023, after toxic levels of it and other heavy metals were found in fruit juices, carrots and sweet potatoes distributed by various manufacturers in recent years, raising concerns about the impact those products may have on children’s brains, IQ and long-term cancer risks.

Walmart Apple Juice Recall

The Walmart apple juice recall affects 9,535 cases of Walmart Great Value apple juice packaged in six packs and sold in eight ounce PET plastic bottles with the UPC number 0-78742-29655-5, and a best if used by date of December 28, 2024.

The juice was manufactured by Refresco Beverages and sold in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 25 U.S. states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

No press release was issued by Refresco to the public regarding this recall. However, the company has stated that as of August 26 no reported illnesses were related to the affected products and Walmart has removed them from its shelves.