Don’t dump your child’s fruit juice just yet, although you may want to cut back. That’s what I’ve gleaned from recent reports claiming unusually high levels of arsenic in apple and other fruit juices being sold in the U.S.

Some consumer groups are claiming the U.S. needs to halt foreign juice imports because they’re unsafe. A recent episode of the TV show “Dr. Oz” tested some apple and grape juices and claimed they were over acceptable arsenic limits. Naturally, this sparked a frenzy of consumer concern. (However, the FDA later retested the same samples and found much lower levels.) Consumer Reports in January released findings that much of the juice concentrate sold in the U.S. contained higher levels of arsenic than we allow in water.

U.S. safety guidelines for bottled and public drinking water limit arsenic levels to no more than 10 parts per billion (ppb). The U.S., however, doesn’t have an arsenic standard for apple or other juices. To rectify this, two Congressmen have introduced a bill to extend the same arsenic standards for water to beverage juices. That makes sense.

What I know is arsenic can be found in most all soil, air and water as the result of human pollution, primarily the use of arsenic-based pesticides in the 1970s. Arsenic has two forms: organic and inorganic. The inorganic form is known to be harmful. The organic form has long been considered harmless (although two scientific studies have also raised concerns about this form). Because it’s found throughout our environment, arsenic leaches into some types of food and beverages. But this is usually in miniscule amounts. The FDA regularly samples juices and reports that it has found no unusually high levels.

 What I’m more concerned about when it comes to fruit juice is the amount of sugar, which represents a documented hazard to our children. Last May, the American Association of Pediatricians recommended limiting the amount of fruit juice children consume because of its relationship to childhood obesity.

Among the recommendations of the AAP report are that:

• When you give your child juice, it should be 100% pasteurized fruit juice and not fruit drinks
• Infants under 6 months of age should not be given juice, although many pediatricians do recommend small amounts of juice for children who are constipated
• Infants between 6 and 12 months can drink up to 4 to 6 ounces of juice a day, but should do it only in a cup, not a bottle
• Similarly, younger children aged 1 to 6 years should have only 4 to 6 ounces of juice a day
• Older children should be limited to 8 to 12 ounces of juice a day

So cut back juice to these limits. It will reduce juices’ known risks related to sugar, and limit exposure to any level of arsenic.  My recommendation: water, pure, clean and simple.

 

Elisha Hawk is an associate with the firm who focuses her practice on complex products liability and mass tort litigation. READ FULL BIO