As Pittsburgh Food Examiner it seemed fairly important to share information received on September 14,2011 while watching the Dr. Oz Show. What was on that show was slightly disturbing, and could only be more disturbing to those of you with kids.
Today Dr. Oz did an investigation into Apple Juice, something many of us drink everyday, something that many of our nations children consume multiple times a day. His investigation regarded the levels of Arsenic found in Apple Juice. Yes, you read that right…. Arsenic.
Long term exposure to Arsenic can possibly have many adverse side effects on the human body. It can cause short term problems including headache, confusion, diarrhea and drowsiness. Some of the more severe long term issues can be as severe as cancer, diabetes, strokes, lung disorders and night blindness.
The Federal Government sets a limit to the amount of Arsenic that is allowed to be present in our drinking water. That limit is set at 10 parts per billion. It is found in our water because it is a product of nature and thus appears in other natural items such as water. The Federal Government however does NOT limit the amount of Arsenic that is permitted in beverages such as Apple Juice.
How does Arsenic end up in items such as Apple Juice? Many of the Apples used in juices are grown in other countries. Those countries do not regulate the use of Arsenic in their pesticides. Those apples are then converted into concentrate and shipped to the USA. Once it enters the USA the concentrate is then mixed with water (which remember, contains trace amounts of Arsenic already) and sold as Apple Juice.
The following chart of information was taken directly from the Dr Oz. website. It is information obtained when an independent study was conducted to discover amounts of Arsenic present in popular brands of Apple Juice.
Minute Maid Apple Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 2 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Apple and Eve Apple Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 11 parts per billion
Mott’s
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 4 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 16 parts per billion
Juicy Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 2 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 22 parts per billion
Gerber
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 36 parts per billion
All organic samples tested scored below the maximum 10 parts per billion of Arsenic allowed by the Federal Government in American drinking water.
It should be stressed that one or two Juice boxes or glasses of juice are NOT going to cause any of the above listed symptoms or diseases. This information is just being passed along as it is the publics right to know the contents of the beverages they are consuming. For more information on the study and results Dr. Oz discovered please visit his website at www.doctoroz.com
The author of this article is in no way considered a medical professional and should not be regarded as such.
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