Walmart has initiated a recall of nearly 10,000 cases of its Great Value brand apple juice sold across 25 states due to elevated levels of arsenic.
The recall affects 9,535 juice cases and was issued after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified it as a Class II recall on Aug. 15. That designation means the product could cause health problems, although it is unlikely to result in serious or permanent conditions.
The recall impacts Great Value apple juice distributed in New Jersey and other states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. The product was also sold in Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
The supplier, Florida-based Refresco Beverages, detected arsenic levels in the juice that exceeded safe consumption thresholds, prompting the recall. Walmart has removed the product from its shelves in the affected areas and is investigating the issue with its supplier.
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman said in a statement.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in the environment, including in soil, water, and air. It can also be present in food and beverages, sometimes at levels that can pose a health risk. Long-term exposure to arsenic – particularly inorganic arsenic – is associated with various health issues, including an increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Symptoms of arsenic exposure can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The FDA has not released information on any illnesses linked to the contaminated apple juice, but it noted that the arsenic levels detected are low enough that severe health effects are not expected. Still, the agency advises consumers who purchased the product to dispose of it or return it to a store.
