It was just a few weeks ago that Dr. Mehmet Oz revealed on his show that research had indicated unsafe amounts of arsenic in several major-label apple juice brands. Further study indicated that several grape juice varieties (which use apple juice as a primary ingredient) also contained unsafe levels of arsenic, and in some cases, lead. The biggest issue, researchers noted, was that the levels of arsenic and lead found in juices were actually higher than the levels found in tap water. The Juice Products Association indicated that the results were incongruous; that researchers can’t compare apple juice to water because they are different substances.
A follow-up study, conducted by Consumer Reports, indicated that in a test of 88 samples of major label juices, 10% were found to contain unsafe levels of arsenic and lead. In questioning where this might come from, it’s important to take into consideration the possibility of certain pesticides having been used on the apple crops. According to a report by Washington State University, Lead Hydrogen Arsenate, used since the 1930s, but banned in the United States in 1988 for use on crops, does not tend to be taken up into the apples of the tree due to the plant/soil barrier. This means that contaminated soil won’t necessarily mean contaminated apples, but Washington state, in particular has taken steps to remove potentially contaminated soil from their orchads. In order for LHA to make it into juice products, it is likely still in use by countries exporting apples for use in American Juice makers, which the findings from Consumer Reports would seem to bear out.
Among the best performing juices in the Consumer Reports finding were:
1.Great Value (Wal-Mart) 100% Apple Juice with Added Fiber, 64 fl. oz.
Wal-Mart’s store brand scored well on testing, having been found with between 1.9 and 2.66 ppb (parts per billion) of inorganic arsenic and between .14 and .25 ppb of lead, well below the federal drinking water limit of 5 ppb. All apples used in the production of this juice are grown in the United States.
2. Red Jacket Orchards 100% Fuji Apple Juice, Not from Concentrate (refrigerated), 32 fl. oz.
Another company that shows that their apples come from orchards in the United States, Red Jacket Orchards juice was found to have between .51 and 1.01 ppb of inorganic arsenic and between .14 and .21 ppb of lead.
3. Tropicana 100% Apple Juice, 15.2 fl. oz.
Tropicana was the only company that scored well in CR testing in spite of using apples from various countries. Their juice was found to have between 1.48 and 2.1 ppb of inorganic arsenic and .53 and 1.04ppb of lead.
Today, with worldwide media attention focused on the FDA findings, parents wait anxiously to find out if their children’s five-servings-per-day juice habit might be giving them cancer and increased risk of heart disease.
The worst performing juices had far higher levels of arsenic and lead, and might surprise you. The highest concentrations of arsenic were found in Gerber 100% apple juice, at 10.48 ppb in one sample, and Walgreen’s 100% grape juice, which in one sample was found to have as much as 20.48 ppb of Arsenic. Both of these juice companies use apples from Argentina, though the worst offender was a bottle that did not list the country of origin on the label. For lead content, the worst offender was, again, Walgreen’s Grape, which in one sample showed 15.9 ppb of lead, three times what is allowed in tap water. Other offenders were Welches 100% Grape Juice, with 9.23 ppb, and Joe’s Kids (Trader Joe’s) at 9.68 ppb. Again, these juices do not use apples from the United States.
Following the studies, it can only be inferred that juice manufacturers not sourcing their apples from United States growers are using at least some apples from countries where pesticides such as LHA are still in heavy use, whether illicit or legal. While this may bring down prices, is the safety of our children really worth it when United States and European growers have proven that they can produce a superior-quality product?
Sources:
Consumer Reports: Arsenic In your Juice: www.consumerreports.org
U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Total Arsenic in Apple Juice Analytical Results, 2005-2011: www.fda.gov
Doctor Oz: Arsenic in Apple Juice: www.doctoroz.com
Washington State University: Lead Arsenate History: soils.tfrec.wsu.edu