FDA proposes “action level†for arsenic in apple juice
Agency testing and analysis confirm overall safety of apple juice
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today proposed an “action level†of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. This is the same level set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for arsenic in drinking water.
“The FDA is committed to ensuring the safety of the American food supply and to doing what is necessary to protect public health,†said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “We have been studying this issue comprehensively, and based on the agency’s data and analytical work, the FDA is confident in the overall safety of apple juice for children and adults.â€
“While the levels of arsenic in apple juice are very low, the FDA is proposing an action level to help prevent public exposure to the occasional lots of apple juice with arsenic levels above those permitted in drinking water,†said Michael R. Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine.
The FDA is establishing this threshold to provide guidance to industry. The agency takes the action level into account when considering an enforcement action, if it finds a food product exceeds the threshold.