News Thousands of Apple Juice Cases Recalled From Walmart Due to High Arsenic Levels By Maggie O'Neill Maggie O'Neill Maggie O’Neill is a health writer and reporter based in New York who specializes in covering medical research and emerging wellness trends, with a focus on cancer and addiction. Prior to her time at Health, her work appeared in the Observer, Good Housekeeping, CNN, and Vice. She was a fellow of the Association of Health Care Journalists’ 2020 class on Women’s Health Journalism and 2021 class on Cancer Reporting. In her spare time, she likes meditating, watching TikToks, and playing fetch with her dog, Finnegan. health's editorial guidelines Updated on August 28, 2024 Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. health's fact checking process Close More than 9,500 cases of Great Value apple juice sold at Walmart have been recalled, according to the FDA.The apple juice was found to contain more inorganic arsenic than the “level set in industry guidance,” the FDA said.Eight-ounce plastic bottles sold in a six-pack were involved in the recall. More than 9,500 cases of Great Value apple juice sold at Walmart stores nationwide have been recalled due to potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The recall involved eight-ounce plastic bottles sold in a six-pack. Refresco Beverages US Inc., which manufactures the product, voluntarily initiated the recall because the apple juice was found to contain more inorganic arsenic than the “level set in industry guidance,” the FDA said. Organic arsenic is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, and food sources. Inorganic arsenic, meanwhile, can be more toxic than organic arsenic, and long-term exposure has been linked to cancer, skin lesions, and other health problems. In 2023, the FDA finalized guidance for manufacturers that said apple juice should contain no more than ten parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic. The recalled products were found to have 13.2 ppb of inorganic arsenic. The new apple juice recall has been classified by the FDA as Class II, meaning the chances of developing serious health problems after consuming the recalled product are remote. However, Class II products may still pose a threat, potentially causing “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.” It’s unclear whether any illnesses have been linked to the recalled products. The universal product code (UPC) for the recalled products is 0-78742-29655-5. The affected products have a best-used-by date of December 28, 2024. The products were distributed to Walmart stores in the following locations: AlabamaConnecticutWashington, D.C.DelawareFloridaGeorgiaIllinoisIndianaKentuckyMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMississippiNorth CarolinaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkOhioPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTennesseeVirginiaVermontWest Virginia In a statement to Health, a Walmart spokesperson said, “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority. We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are working with the supplier to investigate.” undefined undefined / Getty images Why Is Inorganic Arsenic Harmful? Exposure to inorganic arsenic often happens when people consume contaminated food or water. Food crops irrigated with contaminated water, industrial processes, and tobacco use can also lead to inorganic arsenic exposure. Immediate symptoms of arsenic poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and abnormal heart rhythm. Tingling feeling in the hands and feet may be a delayed symptom. A person experiencing long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic could develop chronic arsenic poisoning, which could lead to a persistent sore throat and constant digestive issues, in addition to skin pigmentation issues and even cancer. If you have any of the recalled products in your home, you should dispose of them. If you’ve already drunk the apple juice, monitor yourself for abnormal symptoms and check in with a healthcare provider if you notice any symptoms. The latest recall isn’t the only one involving arsenic-contaminated apple juice: Earlier this year, shoppers were warned that nearly 25,000 recalled cases of Martinelli’s apple juice could have contained unhealthy levels of arsenic. A New Study Found Toxic Metals in Tampons—Should You Still Use Them? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 5 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. World Health Organization. Arsenic. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is arsenic?. Food and Drug Administration. FDA issues final guidance to industry on action level for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. Food and Drug Administration. Recalls background and definitions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Medical management guidelines for arsenic (As) and inorganic arsenic compounds.