In September of 2011, Dr. Mehmet Oz delivered some truly astounding research that confirmed high levels of the heavy metal poison, arsenic, in more than 10% of apple juice tested in the United States. High levels of lead were also discovered in almost 25% of other juices. For almost two decades now, the US has relied heavily on cheaper apple imports from China (thus practically destroying our own apple production). That, along with China's extensive and heavy use of arsenic in their pesticides (which the US has banned for decades now) has resulted in consumers who can't altogether be sure where their apple or apple juice has come from, and now, whether it's in fact laced with toxins. Shortly after the first reports surfaced, the FDA finally admitted that it has actually been aware of these dangerously high levels in apple, pear and grape juices (imported from China) for many years.
People all over reacted to the news- shock, disbelief, fear, anger.
Even more disturbing is that later reports would conclude that there are actually no legal limits placed on arsenic levels for juice. The legal limit for drinking water is generally around 2 ppb (parts per billion). There are many who believe the legal limit for juice should be much lower, as many children tend to drink more juice than water and unfortunately, these toxins have far more serious health affects on little bodies than adults. Possible side effects of arsenic and/or lead poisoning are usually long term and in some cases terminal: kidney and reproductive problems, infertility, brain damage, and cancer to name only a few. Some have argued that, because arsenic testing has not been considered a routine part of physicals, the connection between arsenic ingestion over long periods of time and the possible resulting diseases may never be known to the full extent. Those suffering with certain long-term illnesses or diseases may, in fact, be suffering from long-term effects of lead or arsenic poisoning. This begs the obvious question: is ignorance truly bliss?
But perhaps the other more pressing question that we, as parents, are faced with in light of these findings is how can we avoid (unknowingly) giving our children food and/or drinks that could be contaminated? Here are a few practical ways:
1. Become an expert. Remember that you are your children's best advocate. Be proactive and read as much material as you can about the FDA's regulations in regards to arsenic and lead levels found in food. Other foods likely to be higher in arsenic include (but unfortunately, are not limited to): chicken, rice, and certain kinds of baby foods (in particular sweet potatoes, peaches, carrots, and green beans).
2. Make your own baby food.
3. Buy organic when you can, and buy local if at all possible. It will be more expensive up front, but remind yourself that there's really no price tag that can be placed on good health. A common argument is that our generation grew up "just fine" eating non-organic foods, and while that may be true, the sad reality is that there has been a sharp increase in the amount of pesticides, chemicals, and other hormones being used today that wasn't being used twenty years ago. America now relies almost entirely on imports for our food supply. One juice box may contain juice "concentrate" from as many as seven different countries.
4. Do not exceed what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says is the maximum amount of juice (in ounces) per day. Children under 6 months should not have juice at all. Children between the ages of 1 and 6 should only get 4-6 ounces maximum a day and for children 7-18 years of age, the maximum amount of juice per day is 8-12 ounces. Most children of well-intentioned parents will end up drinking at least twice that amount in a given day.
5. Always dilute juice with water. Not only does it make it stretch farther, but it cuts down on the sugar.
6. Buy brands of juice that are made only from fruit grown in the USA. Organic brands that were tested and passed were 365 Everyday Value Organic 100% Apple Juice (found in WholeFoods stores) and Gerber Organic 100% Apple Juice. Juices that didn't make the cut and were found to have low levels of lead and arsenic were Nature's Own 100% Apple Juice, Tropicana 100% Apple Juice and Red Jacket Orchards 100% Fuji Apple Juice Never From Concentrate.
For more information on the complete test results, go to the Consumer Protection Agency's page.
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