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Pallone: FDA's Adoption of Arsenic Levels for Apple Juice a 'Victory'

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a maximum limit of arsenic allowed in apple juice.

Patch Editor Joy L. Woodson contributed to this story.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently drafted a proposal for a new standard for acceptable levels of arsenic in apple juice.

A threshold was established to provide guidance to the industry and to use in enforcement action if the FDA finds a food product exceeds the given level, according to a news release.

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Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), authors of the Arsenic Prevention and Protection from Lead Exposure in Juice Act of 2012 or the APPLE Juice Act, praised the FDA for its proposal.

“The FDA’s move to implement enforceable standards for levels of arsenic in apple juice is a victory for children, parents, and all consumers,” Pallone said in a news release Friday. “With these new protections and FDA’s announcement, parents can now have peace of mind that the products they are buying are safe for their children to drink.  Congresswoman DeLauro and I have worked very hard on this issue, and I’m happy to see the FDA adopt our proposal.”

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The Food and Drug Administration has been monitoring arsenic levels in apple juice for decades. But, it wasn't until this week that the agency proposed a maximum limit -- 10 parts per billion. That's the same amount allowable in drinking water. 

Pallone and DeLauro introduced the Apple Juice Act after a January 2012 Consumer Reports revelation that high levels of inorganic arsenic are found in apple and grape juice in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, the news release says. According to the report, 10 percent of the sampled juices from five brands contained arsenic levels that exceeded federal drinking-water standards, and 25 percent contained lead levels higher than the federal standards for bottled water.

Lead and arsenic are carcinogens and can cause serious health problems, such as cancer, the news release says.

As a result of these findings, The Dr. Oz Show did a national investigation of the issue. In September, the FDA sent the show a letter saying that the majority of arsenic in apple juice is organic and “harmless.”

In October, the FDA confirmed in an email and on a conference call with The Dr. Oz Show that it was researching the report suggesting the majority of arsenic in apple juice is inorganic.

While 60 percent of apple concentrate is imported from China, other countries use pesticides that contain arsenic, according to The Dr. Oz Show. The show tested dozens of samples from three different U.S. cities and found that some of the country’s best-known brands contain arsenic levels of 11 to 36 parts per billion.

However, the kind of arsenic found in apple juice isn't the kind used to kill rats. What's in apple juice is naturally occurring and "essentially harmless," the FDA says. 

There's been additional testing since 2011, and the levels of arsenic are "too low to cause immediate or short-term health damage." officials said.

But, in assessing the risk of long-term exposure, the agency arrived at the 10 parts per billion limit. 

"We believe that this action level will keep any apple juice that may have more inorganic arsenic than that out of the marketplace," the FDA said. 

In May, Pallone and DeLauro sent a letter to the FDA calling for the release of the agency’s voluntary guidelines for levels of arsenic in fruit juices that were under review in the Office of Management and Budget.

“I am encouraged the FDA has moved to protect American consumers,” DeLauro said. Evidence clearly shows that high levels of arsenic in our food supply pose a significant public health threat, especially to children. I urge the Administration to ensure that the final rule is as strong as possible and addresses this serious issue.”

The FDA’s draft proposal will be finalized after the current 60-day period, where representatives from the industry and the public can submit comments.


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