If you're raising a toddler, apple juice, sauce and pouches are probably all go-tos in your house — and you'll want to check them carefully now that Walmart has just announced a big recall. The retailer is calling back almost 10,000 cases of Great Value apple juice sold in 25 different states due to high levels of arsenic.[1]
The news follows other recent recalls of Martinelli's apple juice (also for high arsenic levels) and various apple sauces pouches (for high lead and chromium levels).[2] Here's what you need to know about this newest recall and what you can do to protect your child from heavy metals.
What apple juice was recalled?
Walmart specifically recalled 8-ounce bottles of Great Value apple juice sold in six packs. (The recall does not include other sizes, such as larger jugs.)
The affected bottles all have the code "DEC2824 CT89-6" on them, and they were sold in Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and 25 states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, NC, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia.
Why was the Great Value apple juice recalled?
Walmart decided to recall the apple juice because it contained more arsenic than permitted by industry guidelines.
"The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority," a Walmart spokesperson told What to Expect. "We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are working with the supplier to investigate."
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that's found in water, air and soil.[3] It's a heavy metal that's toxic to humans, and it can affect all different organs and systems in the body. Babies and young children are more susceptible to the harmful effects.
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Is arsenic always in apple juice?
It's impossible to avoid heavy metal contamination in foods and drinks like apple juice entirely.[4] There are, however, things manufacturers can do to reduce the amount of heavy metals that these products contain.
Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated apple juice should contain no more than 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic; the recalled Great Value apple juice contained 13.2 ppb.
What parents need to know
If you have any of the affected Great Value apple juice at home, don't drink it. You can bring it back to any Walmart store for a refund, a spokesperson confirmed.
And if you already gave your child some of the recalled juice, don't panic, says Gina Posner, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board. "Arsenic is naturally occurring in many foods, and the goal is to not overdue it with exposure. Just throw away the apple juice, and I wouldn't worry."
In general, there are a few things you can do as a parent to help protect your child's health:
- Wait to serve your baby juice. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) actually advises waiting until your child's first birthday to offer juice (and only giving small portions to toddlers).[5] The reason has nothing to do with arsenic, though; it’s because juice isn't as nutritious as whole fruit, and it can displace calories your child should get from solid foods.
- Offer your child a variety of foods. Include lots of different vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins on the menu. This will make it less likely your child is exposed to the same contaminant from the same food many times.
- Be persistent with picky eaters. Picky eating is normal, but don't give up on introducing your child to new foods. It can sometimes take 10 or more tries for your child to get used to a new taste.[6]
- Feed your child iron- and zinc-fortified foods. Iron and zinc can help your child's development and prevent some of the harmful effects of arsenic, lead and mercury exposure. Whole-wheat or barley infant cereals are a good source of these essential nutrients.
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