Last year 94 samples of apple juice with the arsenic were tested by the agency
July 14, 2013 – The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., following years of considerations, has finally proposed a limitation on the amount of inorganic arsenic that will be allowed in apple juice. The proposed level would be equal to the amount the potential carcinogen is allowed in drinking water in the U.S.
Although most of the apple juice produced over the years that has been tested by the U.S. regulatory agency has had low levels of the arsenic, which were considered safe, the FDA has considered setting limits because of the risk of cancer.
On Friday, the agency proposed a 10 parts per billion limit for inorganic arsenic in the fruit juice, the same level set for arsenic in the country’s drinking water by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Last year 94 samples of apple juice with the arsenic were tested by the agency and all were below the threshold of 10 ppb for the arsenic.
The FDA is setting the limit now as a future benchmark of allowable arsenic. For the next 60 days, it will accept all public comments.
Inorganic arsenic might be in foods because it is in our environment, both as a mineral that is naturally occurring and due to pesticides that contain the carcinogen.
Inorganic arsenic has been tied to skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, developmental effects, diabetes and neurotoxicity.
Arsenic that is an organic form also found in ground water and soil is considered to be essentially harmless.
Some consumer advocates said the arsenic limit is just the first step, but there needs to be further limits on the carcinogen.
