Walmart recalls apple juice in 25 states due to arsenic content

More than 9,500 cases of apple juice sold in Walmart stores across the U.S. are being recalled due to elevated levels of “inorganic arsenic,” the Food and Drug Administration announced earlier this month.

The juices were manufactured by Refresco Beverages US Inc. and sold by Walmart.

The affected products are 237 ml of Great Value brand apple juice, which was sold in six-packs in PET plastic bottles, the FDA said.

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The recalled juices have a UPC of 0-78742-29655-5 and a best before date of December 28, 2024.

The recall began on August 15 and was classified as a “Class II” recall on August 23, the FDA said in its statement.

The apple juice recall affects 8-ounce juice bottles sold in six-packs at Walmart stores. (Photo: iStock)

They were sold in Walmart stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia, the FDA said.

A “Class II” recall means “a situation in which use of or contact with an unlawful product may result in temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or in which the likelihood of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” the FDA website states.

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The apple juices contained arsenic levels of 13.2 parts per billion, the FDA said. In June 2023, the FDA issued an industry guidance specifically for apple juice, stating that the upper limit for inorganic arsenic should be 10 parts per billion.

Arsenic is a naturally occurring mineral that is toxic to humans, according to the FDA website.

The recalled apple juices were sold under Walmart’s “Great Value” brand. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“The potential for long-term adverse health effects from consumption of arsenic-contaminated foods varies depending on the arsenic content of the foods, the age of the consumer, the duration, amount and frequency of arsenic exposure in the foods, and other concurrent exposures – either from arsenic from other sources, other contaminants or beneficial nutrients,” they said.

Exposure to high levels of arsenic can be particularly dangerous for young children, the FDA said. “It has been linked to negative neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavioral problems and lower IQ.”

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The FDA continued: “In adults, long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with skin diseases and an increased risk of skin, bladder, and lung cancers, as well as cardiovascular disease.”

Arsenic, pictured above, is a naturally occurring mineral that can be toxic to humans in large doses. (Photo: iStock)

Short-term exposure to “very high levels of inorganic arsenic” can cause various side effects, including nausea, vomiting, bruising and “numbness or burning” in the hands and feet, it said.

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Despite its toxicity, the mere presence of arsenic does not necessarily mean that a person should avoid the substance altogether, they added.

“Because many of the most nutritious foods can also contain contaminants, consumers should eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods within and from the major food groups of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products and protein foods,” the FDA said.

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FOX Business has reached out to Walmart for further comment on the recall.