The amount of arsenic found was low, with 95% of the 160 juice samples studied having levels below 23 parts per billion, which the FDA considers to be its "level of concern," ABC News reports. Almost 88% had levels less than 10 ppb.
However, the remaining 5%, or eight samples, contained dangerous levels of arsenic, according to ABC News. In light of this new information, the agency announced it will increase its monitoring of arsenic levels in apple juice.
"I'm pleased to see the FDA is taking this seriously," ABC News' chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser said, as reported by ABC. "I wish they had been more forthcoming with their findings in September. Clearly, there needs to be more testing. Their sampling so far indicates the problem is as great or greater with apple juice produced in the United States. Thankfully, the number of samples with elevated levels is small, still less than 5%."
Though Besser is wary of the high-arsenic apple juices, which originated mostly from the U.S., he says children can still enjoy the drink in moderation.
"As a pediatrician, I recommend that children not drink more than one or two cups of any fruit juice per day," said Besser, as reported by ABC News. "As long as parents keep to this level of consumption, the current level of contamination should not pose a health risk."
From the December 7, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.