Arsenic in Apple Juice?

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Did anyone else hear about arsenic in apple juice on Doctor Oz? What on earth? In case you missed it, Dr. Oz claims that many brands of apple juice contain unsafe levels of arsenic. Many common types of apple juice are made from apple concentrate made overseas, where they are not required to meet the same safety standards as US products. In his study, he found unsafe levels of arsenic in apple juice drinks that many American families regularly enjoy. Dr Oz recommends drinking apple juice made in the USA.

Dr. Oz says that various groups have been publishing reports on arsenic in apple juice for years now. He says that the American people have the right to know the long-term effects of kids ingesting higher levels of arsenic than safe. 60% of our apples come from overseas, where apples may contain higher levels of arsenic than is safe. In the study, Dr. Oz compared various brands of apple juice with the amount of arsenic found in drinking water. 10 samples contained arsenic levels higher than the limits for water. “Unregulated arsenic in the apple juice in America is unacceptable,” Oz says.

The FDA states that Dr. Oz’s testing was erogenous and disputes the study. They released a statement even before the show aired: “There is no evidence of any public health risk from drinking these juices.” Government scientists and juice manufactures also dispute the study, claiming that it is nothing but irresponsible fear-mongering. They say that the report causes a health crisis when there shouldn’t be one.

Here’s something you might not know: While we think of poison when we think of arsenic, there is arsenic all around us. Organic and nonorganic. Organic arsenic is found all around us, in food and naturally occurring in the environment. Organic arsenic is nontoxic. Oz’s testing checked for total arsenic, not differentiating between the dangerous and non-dangerous organic kind. Doctors have come out on the news saying that the report was “highly irresponsible.”

I’m not sure what to think. My kids occasionally drink apple juice and I certainly don’t want them ingesting harmful substances. However, I also recognize that there are both safe and unsafe (manufactured) types of arsenic and that the studies may not have differentiated between the two. At the very least, I’ll make sure my apple juice is made in the USA. The best apples come from the Pacific Northwest anyway. What do you think? Do you think that apple juice is possibly dangerous to our kids?

News4Jax: Arsenic for Apple Juice: http://www.news4jax.com/news/29189053/detail.html

ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/dr-richard-besser-dr-mehmet-oz-debate-arsenic/story?id=14526426

Arsenic in apple juice – who knew? (timesunion.com)
FDA, Others Dispute Dr. Oz Claims Of Arsenic In Apple Juice (newyork.cbslocal.com)
FDA to Dr. Oz: Apple juice is safe after all (msnbc.msn.com)
Arsenic in Apple Juice? (foxnews.com)
FDA disputes TV suggestion of apple juice risk (sfgate.com)
FDA disputes TV suggestion of apple juice risk (boston.com)
Arsenic in apple juice? Dr. Oz and FDA square off (ctv.ca)
Dr Oz and the FDA Differ on Apple Juice Arsenic Content – Show Ratings Did Not Disappoint (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
FDA disputes TV suggestion of apple juice risk (thenewstribune.com)
FDA Disputes TV Suggestion of Apple Juice Risk (abcnews.go.com)
GMA’s Richard Besser Slams Dr. Oz For ‘Fear Mongering’ Report On Arsenic In Apple Juice (mediaite.com)

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