viernes, 16 de septiembre de 2011

Getting to the Core of the Issue: Apple Juice and Arsenic | FoodSafety.gov

Getting to the Core of the Issue: Apple Juice and Arsenic

Posted September 14, 2011 |

By By Donald Zink, Ph.D., Senior Science Advisor, FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Apple juice being poured into a glassAs a parent and grandparent myself, I understand the concern over recent reports that arsenic has been found in apple juice, especially since it is a staple in many children’s daily diets.

We here at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are familiar with the issue of arsenic being found in certain food and beverage products, but I realize that hearing this may be new to you. I would like to take the time to make sure you understand why it is there, how it got there and if you should be concerned.

Why is there arsenic in fruit juice products?

Arsenic is present in the environment as a naturally occurring substance and as a result of contamination from human activity, such as from the use of certain pesticides and fertilizers. It is found in water, air, food and soil.

There are two types of arsenic: organic and inorganic. The inorganic forms of arsenic are the harmful forms, while the organic forms of arsenic are essentially harmless. Because both forms of arsenic have been found in soil and ground water, small amounts may be found in certain food and beverage products, including fruit juices and juice concentrates.

What is the FDA doing to protect the public against arsenic in fruit juice products?

The FDA has been testing for arsenic contamination in juice products for several years as part of FDA programs that look for harmful substances in food. We have been aggressively testing samples of both domestic and imported fruit juices and juice concentrates, and have not found evidence that juice is unsafe for consumers young or old.

I have heard reports of test results showing high levels of arsenic in apple juice products. Are they true?

Unless we can determine that the test methods used were for inorganic arsenic and that the method was accurate and properly performed, we are not able to specifically address the test results. It is important to remember that test results for total arsenic do not distinguish between the essentially harmless organic forms of arsenic and the harmful inorganic forms of arsenic. It would be inappropriate to draw conclusions about the safety of a product based on the total arsenic level.

When the FDA wants to determine if a food has unsafe levels of arsenic, we test the food specifically for the harmful, inorganic forms of arsenic. It is common to test for total arsenic as a quick and easy way of seeing how much arsenic is in the sample. However, a total arsenic test does not tell us how much inorganic arsenic is in the sample. In fact, organic arsenic can make up the bulk of total arsenic in some foods. If you want to know if there are harmful amounts of arsenic in the sample, you must test specifically for inorganic arsenic.

Does the FDA have a response to the information recently reported on the Dr. Oz Show?

The FDA is aware of the episode of the Dr. Oz Show that aired on Sept. 12, 2011, where test results for arsenic in apple juice were discussed. The FDA has reviewed the test results performed by EMSL Analytical, Inc., on behalf of the Dr. Oz Show, and we can confirm that the results that were revealed are for total arsenic. The results do not distinguish between the essentially harmless organic forms of arsenic and the harmful inorganic forms of arsenic. Therefore, these results cannot be used to determine whether there is an unsafe amount of arsenic in the juice tested by the Dr. Oz Show.

It is inappropriate to draw conclusions about the safety of a food based on the total arsenic level since in most instances organic arsenic, which again is essentially harmless and not absorbed by the body, makes up the bulk of the total arsenic in foods like juice.

Did the FDA test any of the samples tested by the Dr. Oz Show?

On Sept. 10-11, 2011, the FDA completed laboratory analysis of the same lot of Gerber apple juice that was tested by the Dr. Oz. Show, as well as several other lots produced in the same facility. The FDA’s testing detected very low levels of total arsenic in all samples tested. These new results were consistent with the FDA’s results obtained in the FDA's routine monitoring program and are well below the results reported by the Dr. Oz Show. The FDA has concluded that the very low levels detected during our analysis are not a public health risk and the juice products are safe for consumption.

Are apple and other fruit juices safe to drink?

Yes. There is currently no evidence to suggest a public health risk from fruit juices, including apple juice.

Where can I get more information?

Getting to the Core of the Issue: Apple Juice and Arsenic | FoodSafety.gov: - Enviado mediante la barra Google

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