Arsenic levels in apple juice

Last week you may have heard on the news about arsenic in apple juice.  Arsenic is a substance that occurs naturally in the environment but also from things like pesticides and fertilizers that were used in past decades.   For over 20 years the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tested fruit juices such as apple juice for arsenic.  Testing has shown low amounts present (approximately 3 parts per billion).  In contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows maximum arsenic levels of 10 parts per billion in our drinking water.Image Courtesy of FoodClipArt.comThe American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has long recommended limiting consumption of all sweet beverages, including juice to no more than 4-6 ounces/day for children 1-6 years of age; 8-12 ounces for children 7 years and up.    For better nutrition, the AAP recommends eating whole fruit rather than juice. Pediatric Health doesn’t recommend juice for infants or toddlers as the sugar content is equal to a Coke and will suppress the child’s appetite and cause reluctance to eat the needed foods.  Furthermore, there is growing confirmation that juice and other sugary drinks are contributing to our children’s nutrition problems in being overweight. For any concerns you may have regarding arsenic, we have included links below for your convenience.http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/Arsenic-in-Apple-Juice.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - Category: Pediatrics Tags: Healthy Habits Source Type: news