Walmart Recalls Great Value Apple Juice Due to Elevated Arsenic Levels

Attention Walmart shoppers, the superstore has announced a recall of its Great Value brand of apple juice. The decision came after elevated levels of inorganic arsenic were found during a routine inspection. Arsenic is an element that naturally occurs in the Earth's crust. The metalloid can be found in many foods, and isn't usually a concern when detected in small amounts.

However, the amounts of inorganic arsenic found in the Great Value apple juice exceed those safe levels, prompting Walmart to pull the juice and to caution customers against drinking any from the contaminated batches. Learn more about why the apple juice had arsenic in it, including what you need to do with your Walmart brand products, by reading below.

According to a statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, Walmart initiated the recall on the 8 ounce bottles of the juice. These juices are sold in six packs, and they have the UPC code 0-78742-29655-5 printed on the packaging.

You can check to see if your apple juice is part of the recall by looking at the code on the back of the bottle as well as checking the best if used by date, which would show as DEC2824 CT89-6.

This juice was widely distributed, and has been sold in 25 states, including Alabama, Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania, and more. You can visit the FDA's website to see a full list of all the states impacted.

Walmart initially announced the recall on Aug. 15, 2024, but the FDA updated the classification of the recall just under two weeks later, changing it to a Class II recall.

A Class II recall is the second highest classification the FDA uses, and it means that exposure to the recalled item could create temporary adverse health conditions, according to CNN.

If you have any of the contaminated product at home, you should discontinue using it at once.

The folks at Dartmouth put together a handy guide to the fruits and vegetables that are naturally higher in arsenic, explaining what you need to know. Basically, certain edible plants (apples among them) are just better at absorbing the naturally occurring arsenic that can be found in the soil, and the inorganic arsenic that is sometimes used in pesticides.

As such, apple juice is also likely to have a higher amount of arsenic in it than some other juices. However, juices that are made from concentrate may have even higher levels of the element, which could result in increased exposure.

That being said, apple seeds do not contain arsenic, contrary to popular belief. Instead, they have cyanide in them. Fortunately, that thick outer coating on the seed protects the apple itself from contamination.

The Cleveland Clinic says that arsenic poisoning can happen if you've consumed too much of the element. Some symptoms to be on the look out for include stomach upset, which may present as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

Additionally, if you're exposed to elevated levels over a long period of time you may see some more obvious changes, which can include skin lesions and changes to your skin's texture and tone.

If you've been exposed to elevated arsenic levels you should call poison control at 800-222-1222.