Arsenic in juice samples, Consumer Reports study finds

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A recent Consumer Reports study found an alarming amount of poisonous arsenic in apple and grape juices after testing samples in the New York metropolitan area.

Consumer Reports says it’s a grave concern, considering the amount of juice children consume on a regular basis.

While the government sets limits on the levels of arsenic that can be present in water, no limits are in place for juice.

Out of 88 samples that were tested, 10 percent of the juice had arsenic levels that exceed the federal standards for bottled and municipal water. Twenty-five percent of the juices had also lead levels that exceeded water standards.

Most of the detected arsenic was the inorganic form, a carcinogen linked to skin, bladder and lung cancers.

The report doesn’t draw conclusions about any particular brand of juice because the test is limited.

However, it states that a likely source of contamination maybe pesticides that were used in agriculture, containing arsenic.

The Consumers Union is urging the Food and Drug Administration to set standards for juice. The Juice Products Association told Consumer Reports that they are committed to complying with any limits established by the FDA.

The FDA says its reviewing its data to determine whether they should set guidelines. The FDA found even higher levels of arsenic in apple juice than Consumer Reports did.

Consumer Reports reccomends that parents limit how much juice their children drink.

To read the report, click here .