Arsenic in Juice

In September 2011, Dr. Oz reported on the arsenic in apple juice. The report caused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), juice manufacturers and ABC News’ Dr. Besser to blow a fuse. Other doctors said we should be more concerned about the sugar in juice than the toxins. If this is how they feel then I don’t understand why they’re sitting by and not doing something about it.  

On ABC News, Dr. Besser asked questions and did not let Dr. Oz answer. Here’s what I got out of the bantering. Dr. Besser says there are two kinds of arsenic – organic and inorganic. I just learned that arsenic is all around us, in the air, trees and ground and I’m assuming this is the organic type that ends up in our water and food (including candy, cookies and cereal). Other than this, there was no explanation (even from Dr. Christopher Holstege, Chief of Toxicology at the University of Virginia) as to what is actually different between the two types to make me think that one is less dangerous than the other. I remember Elisabeth on the View saying that the FDA said that the organic arsenic is essentially safe – not actually safe. If there actually is a difference I don’t understand why they don’t do like they do with other things and call them Arsenic A and Arsenic B or Arsenic 1 and Arsenic 2. In any case, Dr. Besser pointed out that the FDA warned Dr. Oz not to show his episode regarding arsenic in apples. During the conversation with Dr. Besser, Dr. Oz tried to tell him that in the last 3 years others have also had concerns. A study out of the University of Arizona in 2009 showed the levels were mostly non organic arsenic. Dr. Oz said his show looked at the total arsenic because that’s what the FDA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) use and that organic arsenic has been looked at primarily in fish and for those species it is apparently safe. Dr. Oz explained that our bodies can convert arsenic into a toxin and there has been a lot of debate as to whether or not organic arsenic is safe. Dr. Oz said his concern is the long term use as the FDA and EPA have been continually lowering the amount of arsenic that is safe for us. Dr. Oz also said that when his show reached out to the juice companies and the FDA no one would participate in the discussion and now (since the show) they want to talk. Dr. Oz said they used the same lab that deals with commercial testing and sends data to the FDA; it’s not a run of the mill lab and there were 3 other groups independent of theirs that had the same type results. Dr. Oz said on his show he went out of his way to tell people not to panic (he’s not taking apple juice away from his kids), no one is dying but he’s been trying to have a conversation regarding this issue and would argue that we should have the same level of arsenic in our juice as we do in drinking water. Dr. Besser reported that the FDA allows 10 parts per billion in our water while allowing 23 parts per billion in the juice. They say it’s because people consume more water than juice and water is used in processing food. I agree with Dr. Oz and also argue that there should be no double standard. Dr. Besser says the same standards are applied to other countries selling to us. However, both doctors agree that there are not enough inspections to guarantee the same level of safety. I would think the combined use of arsenic in our water or any other product could be unhealthy in the long term. Bottom line, we shouldn’t have it both ways; complain because the government does nothing and complain because someone is acting in the best interest of the people.

On November 30, ABC News reported that due to the anger stirred by Dr. Oz’s arsenic results, Consumer Reports did their own test. They tested 88 samples of apple and grape juice and found that 10% had arsenic levels and 25% had lead levels greater than the FDA approved level for drinking water. The juice organization of course said the comparison to drinking water was inappropriate as the FDA allows a greater percentage – does this make sense, I don’t think so. Dr. Besser said when the issue came up back in September the FDA assured him there was an FDA standard and now he finds out there is not. The FDA also told him that the type of arsenic that’s in apple juice is the safe kind and it turns out it’s not. Dr. Besser was irritated that the FDA published the results of their study and withheld the 8 results that were high, thus falsifying their report.

I agree with both doctors that we don’t want a public panic but there needs to be a change. Dr. Besser says babies under 6 months shouldn’t have any juice and children under age 7 should have no more than 4-6 ounces while older kids should have 8 – 12 ounces of juice per day. Personally, I appreciate that Dr. Oz cares enough to be looking into these things. Maybe the next time he or his staff member wants to talk to the FDA they will respond so nothing like this happens again.