As the back-to-school season begins, parents are reaching for lunchtime staples like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apple juice and granola bars—simple, reliable favorites that make packing lunchboxes a breeze. But if you’ve stocked up at Walmart, you might want to double-check the labels, as a new recall warns that certain apple juice products could pose a serious health risk.
Get The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter
Walmart is recalling 9,535 cases of its Great Value 100% apple juice six-packs, packaged in eight-ounce PET plastic bottles. The affected products have a Best If Used By date of December 28, 2024, and a UPC code of 0-78742-29655-5.
The apple juice was distributed to Walmart locations in Alabama, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, 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 and West Virginia.
According to an announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the apple juice was recalled due to high levels of arsenic. In June 2023, the FDA set guidance to allow for no more than 10 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic in apple juice, while the recalled Great Value apple juice contains 13.2 parts per billion.
Symptoms of arsenic poisoning can begin within 30 minutes of consuming high levels of arsenic. They may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a “pins and needles” feeling in your fingers and toes, red, swollen skin and more. If you think you’re experiencing symptoms of arsenic poisoning after consuming a potentially contaminated product, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
