WASHINGTON (PRNewswire) — In response to a Consumer Reports study, released Wednesdsay, which claims the Food and Drug Administration allows a dangerous amount of arsenic in apple juice, the Juice Products Association has released the following statement:
Juice is safe for consumers of all ages. That is the position of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), our Federal government's best resource for conducting independent evaluations and making objective, science-based decisions.
Safety and quality have always been and will continue to be the top priorities for U.S. juice producers. Juice producers thoroughly test their products and comply with Federal regulations requiring that companies evaluate their processes, ingredients and packaging to ensure food safety.
At the present time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based upon thorough scientific evaluation and risk assessment, has established a specific level of concern for inorganic arsenic in apple juice at 23 parts per billion (ppb) and a recommended maximum level for lead in fruit juice at 50 ppb. FDA has repeatedly stated that its level of concern is a limit on inorganic arsenic that is just as enforceable as a regulation, and the FDA does take enforcement action if and when this level of concern is exceeded. It is important to note that none of the juice samples tested by Consumer Reports exceeded the 23 ppb level of concern for inorganic arsenic or the maximum level for lead in fruit juice.
The juice industry looks to the scientists and toxicologists at the FDA to make science- based decisions about food safety that are in the best interest of public health. The juice industry adheres to FDA guidelines and juice products sold in the U.S. meet and will continue to proactively meet or exceed the Federal standards. The FDA has been monitoring fruit juices for arsenic content for more than 20 years and are confident in the overall safety of apple juice consumed in this country.
The members of the Juice Products Association are committed to providing safe and nutritious fruit juice products. JPA supports ongoing scientific research to ensure the quality and safety of all fruit juice.
The Juice Products Association is the trade association representing the fruit and juice products industry.
