Walmart Great Value Apple Juice 6-Packs Recalled for High Arsenic Levels

If you have recently purchased apple juice from Walmart, check your refrigerator or pantry before consuming it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that 9,535 cases of Great Value 8-ounce Apple Juice sold in a 6-pack were recalled due to containing “inorganic arsenic above action level set in industry guidance.”

The FDA states the Florida-based global bottle provider Refresco Beverages US Inc., voluntarily recalled the item on August 15, 2024. 

The recall impacts the Great Value 6-Pack Apple Juice made with 100% Juice and packaged in an 8-ounce PET plastic bottle with UPC 0-78742-29655-5 and Best if Used by date of DEC2824 CT89-6.

The recalled apple juice was sold in Walmart stores nationwide in the following states and regions: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. 

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, arsenic is a naturally occurring element found everywhere from water to soil, air, and food. While all arsenic is toxic to humans, inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen. Not only that, but arsenic exposure can negatively affect the cardiovascular system, skin, prostate glands, and nervous system, which can lead to other potentially severe health issues.

The FDA did not provide any information on possible injuries associated with this apple juice recall nor any specific recommendations for those who have been impacted by it. However, for any recalled food or drink item, it’s best to not consume it and either throw it away immediately or bring it back to the store you purchased from.