An apple juice recall due to potentially harmful levels of arsenic has been expanded to include products sold at several national retailers.
Last month, Walmart recalled nearly 10,000 cases of Great Value brand apple juice sold in stores in 26 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia due to arsenic concerns.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the affected product may temporarily cause adverse health effects, but is unlikely to cause serious or permanent medical problems.
This week, Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US Inc. issued a voluntary recall of an additional 141,300 cases of apple juice after more products were found to contain arsenic slightly above FDA-recommended levels.
The latest recall affects the following brands: Great Value, sold at Walmart; Nature’s Nectar, sold at Aldi; Market Basket, sold at Market Basket; Nice!, sold at Walgreens; Weis, sold at Weis; Urban Meadow, sold at Brooklyn Fare; Wellsley Farms, sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club and Walmart; Solevita, sold at Lidl US; Clover Valley, sold at Dollar General; and Tropical Delight, sold at various retailers in New York.
The contaminated apple juice was sold in 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, Wisconsin, West Virginia, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Complete list of apple juice recalls 2024
- Great Value Apple Juice 8 oz 6 Pack; Walmart; BEST If Used By: DECEMBER 26, 2024 CT89-6; BEST If Used By: DECEMBER 27, 2024 CT89-6
- Great Value Apple Juice 96 oz; Walmart; Best before December 26, 2024 CT89-5; Best before December 27, 2024 CT89-5; Best before December 28, 2024 CT89-5
- Market Basket 100% Pure Apple Juice 64 oz; Market Basket; code 032525 CT89-1
- Great! 100% Apple Juice 64; Walgreens; Best Before March 25 25 CT89-1
- Weis 100% Apple Juice 64 oz; Weis Markets; For sale by 03/25/25 CT89-1
- Urban Meadow 100% Apple Juice 64 oz; Brooklyn Fare; Best Before 3/26/25 CT89-1
- Nature’s Nectar 100% Apple Juice 64 oz; Aldi; Best Before March 26, 2025 CT89-4 AND Best Before March 27, 2025 CT89-4
- Wellsley Farms 100% Apple Juice 96 oz; BJ’s and Walmart; Best before 3/26/25 CT89-5
- Solevita 100% Apple Juice 64 oz; Lidl US; Best before 03/27/2025 CT89-4
- Clover Valley 100% Apple Juice 64 oz; Dollar General; Best before 03/27/2025 CT89-4
- Tropical Delight 100% Apple Juice 64 oz; Various retailers in New York; Best before July 25, 2025
According to the National Institutes of Health, most food products contain very low levels of both inorganic and organic arsenic. Testing is routine because slightly elevated levels of either form can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness, and muscle cramps.
Inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than the naturally occurring form of mineral arsenic, and the health effects of exposure are more serious, according to the FDA. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer.
The levels detected in the recalled apple juice bottles are low enough that the FDA does not expect them to cause such serious health consequences.
The FDA has not shared any reports of possible illnesses associated with the apple juice recall.