Arsenic and Apple Juice
Dr. Oz, Emmy award winning TV host and health guru for daytime viewers everywhere, targeted apple juice on a Sept 12th show, stating that his team had found “unsafe” levels of arsenic in apple juice being sold in America.
Oz’s team analyzed juice sources from the U.S. and several other countries, and found “unsafe” levels of arsenic in juice from countries where standards are not as strict as in the US, like China. All products reviewed are commonly sold in the US.
Oz also found that up to seven different countries can be represented in one bottle of apple juice, as manufacturers mix them together.
The FDA, not available for comment prior to showtime, came out in force following the reaction to the show, claiming Oz to be a “fear monger” and emphatically stating that our American juice is “safe” to consume.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance, and found in varying levels in soil, and drinking water. Oz claims that the FDA should be looking more closely at this issue, and at our food supply in general, given that countries like China do not have pesticide regulations as rigorous as ours in the US. The use of Arsenic as a pesticide is illegal in the U.S. but not in some other countries, like China.
Dr. Oz maintains that the standards for water and juice should be the same, as many children in the U.S. consume copious amounts of juice. The levels of arsenic in juice found would not have been acceptable in the US using standards for water.
Dr. Oz plans a rebuttal show Wednesday, Sept 21.
My best advice?
-Eat whole apples that are organic and locally grown.
-Limit apple juice consumption due to the high levels of sugar, regardless of the arsenic content.
-Give kids water, healthy lemonade made with natural sweeteners, or coconut water.
-Drink only organic apple or fruit juice, preferably from your own state or local community.
Pesticide use is on the rise universally due to increased pest resistance, why take this risk with your kids or your own health?
