An apple a day really does keep the doctor away! But, what about apple juice made from apple concentrate that is imported from other countries? Recently, a national study was conducted which discovered traces of arsenic in some apple juice concentrate imported from countries like China, which is used in the manufacturing of apple juice products here in the US.
This national study, conducted by Dr. Mehmet Oz, of the emmy award winning “Dr. Oz Show,” has sparked both debate and defense among the FDA, the CDC and even CNN!
According to reports, American apple juice is made from apple concentrate of which 60% is imported from China. Other countries may also use pesticides that contain arsenic, a heavy metal known to cause cancer. After testing dozens of samples, from three different cities in America, Dr. Oz discovered that some of the nation’s best known brands of apple juice contain arsenic.
“Although arsenic has been banned in the US for decades, it’s not always regulated in other countries where it may be in the water supply or used in pesticides contaminating the juice you’re giving to your children,” according to Dr. Oz.
Dr. Russell H. Greenfield, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, agrees that health concerns exist that are specific to arsenic exposure in childhood. For example, a developing fetus may be exposed to arsenic in the pregnant mother’s environment (arsenic crosses the placenta). And further research suggests that chronic childhood arsenic exposure may be associated with cognitive impairment (lower IQ scores) and an increased risk of illness early in life.
The EPA has set a limit on arsenic in drinking water, but,currently, there is no limit on arsenic in apple juice. The Dr. Oz Show tested three dozen samples from five different brands of apple juice across three different American cities, and compared the levels of arsenic to the standard for water. But, were these stringent tests a fair comparison of apples to apples? The FDA doesn’t think so.
“The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a specific method for testing fruit juice, because juice contains many more naturally occurring compounds than water,” according to Dr. Gail Charnley, toxologist for the Juice Products Association.
So, how can we make sure that we are giving our children the safest juice available?
- Buy Organic: Whenever possible, buy organic apple juice
- Check Country of Origin: The way countries are listed on juice boxes can be misleading. “Conc from China” most likely means that the juice concentrate comes from China.
- Buy from the USA: Concentrate, from the USA, is highly regulated and a safer choice.
As an informed consumer, you can make the healthiest choices for your family. Cheers to your health!
“Living well … one healthy step at a time”
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