Apple juice recall over arsenic affecting Aldi, Walmart and more expands to 1 more brand
The ongoing apple juice recall affecting national retailers such as Aldi and Walmart has expanded to include more cases and one more brand. The recall is due to the risk that the products have been contaminated with arsenic, a heavy metal that can cause a range of adverse health effects.
About 141,300 cases of apple juice, sold under several different brand names, are included in the recall. The producer is Refresco Beverages Inc. of Tampa, Florida, who initiated the recall on Aug. 15. Twenty-six states are affected by the recall.
Originally only Walmart's Great Value brand apple juice was recalled, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the recall to include Aldi and other retailers on Aug. 26. A new brand, Tropical Delight, was added on Sept. 11.
The apple juice recall is classified as class II, meaning exposure to the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
Apple juice recall 2024 full list
The apple juice recall affects products sold at Walmart, Walgreens, Aldi, Weis, Market Basket, BJ's, Dollar General, Lidl US, Brooklyn Fare and other various retailers. They were sold in 26 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Here is a full list of the recalled products:
Great Value 8oz Apple Juice in 6pack; Walmart; BEST If used by: DEC 2624 CT89-6; Best if used by: DEC 2724 CT89-6
Great Value 96oz Apple Juice; Walmart; Best if used by DEC 2624 CT89-5; Best if used by DEC 2724 CT89-5; Best if used by DEC 2824 CT89-5
Market Basket 100% apple juice 64 oz; Market Basket; code 032525 CT89-1
Nice! 100% apple juice 64; Walgreens; Best By Mar 25 25 CT89-1
Weis 100% apple juice 64 oz; Weis Markets; Sell By 032525 CT89-1
Urban Meadow 100% apple juice 64 oz; Brooklyn Fare; Best By 032625 CT89-1
Nature's Nectar 100% apple juice 64 oz; Aldi; Best By Mar26 2025 CT89-4 AND Best By Mar27 2025 CT89-4
Wellsley Farms 100% apple juice 96 oz; BJ's and Walmart; Use By 032625 CT89-5
Solevita 100% apple juice 64 oz; Lidl US; Best By 03272025 CT89-4
Clover Valley 100% apple juice 64 oz; Dollar General; Best By 03/27/2025 CT89-4
Tropical Delight 100% apple juice 64 oz; various retailers in New York; Best By 25 JUL 2025
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman told NBC News in a statement. “We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are working with the supplier to investigate.”
Aldi also put out a press release about the recall, saying in part: "ALDI puts the safety and integrity of the products it sells first. If customers have products affected by this recall, they are advised to discard it immediately or return it to their local store for a full refund."
What brands are affected by the apple juice arsenic recall?
The following brands have been recalled due to the risk that they are contaminated with arsenic:
Great Value, sold at Walmart
Nature’s Nectar, sold at Aldi
Market Basket, sold at Market Basket
Nice!, sold at Walgreens
Weis, sold at Weis
Urban Meadow, sold at Brooklyn Fare
Wellsley Farms, sold at BJ's Wholesale Club and Walmart
Solevita, sold at Lidl US
Clover Valley, sold at Dollar General
Tropical Delight, sold at various retailers in New York
Where has apple juice contaminated with arsenic been sold?
The products included in the ongoing apple juice recall due to Refresco Beverages were sold in:
Alabama
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
Michigan
Mississippi
North Carolina
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
Vermont
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Puerto Rico
District of Columbia
Why is there arsenic in apple juice?
Arsenic may be found in apple juice if it’s present in the fruit itself.
Small traces of arsenic may be in water and soil, and plants, such as apple trees, absorb it, according to the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program. Many types of food contain small amounts of arsenic, such as dark chocolate, rice and seafood.
Arsenic exists naturally in soil, but it also was found in chemicals sprayed on orchards for many years. While these chemicals are no longer used, some arsenic from this process may still remain. Also, some human behaviors deposit arsenic in soil.
Another recall was recently issued over arsenic in apple juice: In May, S. Martinelli & Company, the maker of the popular Martinelli’s Gold Medal Apple Juice, recalled 24,519 cases for “elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.”
What is inorganic arsenic?
Inorganic arsenic, the type of arsenic involved in Walmart apple juice recall, is a toxic heavy metal. It is more toxic than organic arsenic and is a known carcinogen (meaning it can cause cancer), according to the World Health Organization.
Most foods that contain arsenic have the organic kind. But inorganic arsenic can make its way into the environment through building products, drinking water contaminated with arsenic and more.
What does arsenic do to humans?
The apple juice contaminated with arsenic is unlikely to cause serious symptoms; however it may cause temporary or medically reversible symptoms in humans.
According to WHO, short-term signs of arsenic poisoning include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Muscle cramping
Exposure to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic can be particularly dangerous for kids. It has been associated with learning disabilities, lowered IQ and behavior difficulties, according to the FDA.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
