So some of you may have heard of this fellow by the name of Dr. Mehmet Oz reporting by way of an “extensive national study” that we should all be very wary of apple juice because some may contain harmful levels of the metal Arsenic.
Let me first say that I do not follow or watch Dr. Oz. I think his claim to fame is that he is a surgeon and was BFF’s with Oprah, right? Whatever it is, I’m sure he has lots of great opinions and great information. But this one? Not so much.
First I will give the information he provides via his website and show, then I will tell you what I have found.
- Dr. Oz’s study was national and extensive.
Really? Three US cities with dozens of samples hardly sounds comprehensive to me. How can three cities possibly cover all the variables for a study like this? One of the rules of research is to have the variable you’re testing and control all the others. That seems hard to do for this study, then he calls it “extensive” and “national”. I disagree. - Dr. Oz tested for total arsenic.
In fact, there is a huge difference between organic and inorganic arsenic. Organic is found naturally in foods and living things we consume, inorganic is from the inanimate things around us, like the ground. I’ll save you the technicalities, but once arsenic is ingested, it breaks down into different forms in the liver. According to the CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s ToxGuide for arsenic – “In most species, including humans, ingested organic arsenical compounds such as MMA and DMA [substances Arsenic breaks down into in our bodies], undergo limited metabolism, do not readily enter the cell, and are primarily excreted unchanged in the urine.” What does that mean? Very little enters your cells and your body mainly rids itself of it in your pee. Additionally, it is noted that inorganic arsenic is promptly excreted in your pee as well, and some in your feces. (ew.) - Dr. Oz cites the levels safe for drinking water and compares it to apple juice.
I’m not convinced you can make a direct correlation here. While inorganic arsenic is common in our soils and water supply due to it being in our bed rock, and organic arsenic can be used as a pesticide, I’m not seeing how this is a direct correlation to apple juice. I mean we don’t get apple juice from the ground, so why are you comparing it to that? If you say, well, apples grow on trees and those are in the ground and so… that still doesn’t work. Arsenic is classified as a metal, it’s in the rock portion of our terra firma. It gets into our water when we draw on the deep ground water from that layer where it has leached into that water supply. I’m just not convinced that you can make a direct correlation. - The claim is that the apple juice concentrate used in these juices is a blend of juice from up to seven countries and they may or may not regulate the use of arsenic in pesticides and/or water. Out of the 36 samples taken, 10 came back with higher levels than what is allowed in water.
This could be very true. There could be increased levels of arsenic in those juices because of this reason. There are also various foods that we import from the east that are high in arsenic. Where is the alert over these things? Like rice. If I didn’t have rice to feed my kids, I would be up a creek, and not in a good way. And really, is a third of these samples enough to get the whole country up and arms? A third of 36? Really? If you told me it was a third of 36 million… then I may think twice, maybe. Also, personally, we don’t normally consume any of these brands regularly, and I know that is just my family. Lots of others do. I also dilute the juice I give to my kids and I bet you do, too. I guess my point is that, in my opinion, the study is far from comprehensive, and to make a blanket “shocking” report like that is a little, irresponsible. - Just as a matter of Myth Busting, arsenic is not in apple seeds. Cyanide is. But in order for the cyanide in said apple seeds to have any effect, you would have to have a bushel full, ground, and ingested all at once. Um, that’s not going to happen. Additionally, in order for apple juice to contain arsenic, it would have to come from the source apples by way of the water, soil and/or pesticides used to grow them.
Also, the CDC says, in regards specifically to Children’s Health, “Children who are exposed to high levels of arsenic exhibit symptoms similar to those seen in adults, including cardiovascular, dermal, and neurological effects, and vomiting following ingestion. There is some evidence that metabolism of inorganic arsenic in children is less efficient than in adults.” Meaning, if a child is at danger from this, you will notice, and they may not break it down as quickly as an adult.
I know this is a lot, but I wanted to try and put some people’s minds to rest. We do not need to ban apple juice. Perhaps continuing to be diligent label readers and really pay attention to what we are buying, as with any food or beverage, is all we need to do.
For eons, people have drank and given their children apple juice. I am certainly not going to jump on this bandwagon.
Post by Maegan. Get more of her at Beyond The BandAids and you can follow her on Twitter.
About MOMfia Mom Member
But here’s my question — even if it is trace amounts, what are the long term effects of both organic and inorganic arsenic on us?
And the fact that we have now outsourced apples, worries me too. We wonder why people can’t get work here in the US and we don’t even grow our own apples anymore.
Hi Lisa!
That is a great question – it’s a lot to explain, with lots of math! I would direct you here http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/TF.asp?id=19&tid=3 to the CDC’s ToxFaq’s page for Arsenic – there is a PDF that is very informative (beware of math!) and the page itself has lots on info including effects on the kiddos!
This site http://www.eco-usa.net/toxics/chemicals/arsenic.shtml also has some great, plain language info. Look under the Health Effects section for a good breakdown.
I’ll note too, that every site I have researched – all lead back to the CDC reference I used in the article above. In short, you have to ingest A LOT to see negative effects.
I agree with the Apple Juice Concentrate importing thing. I think diligence in label reading is still the answer. Be sure to check your grape and pear juice as these too, as well as being included in many fruit blends, can be higher in total arsenic levels.
I love this post. Very informative.
I’m with you, and will not be forbidding apples or apple juice in my home. Centuries apples have been consumed as well as made into apple juice. Our bodies have been exposed to organic and inorganic elements for a long time as well. I’m more concerned with the man-made chemicals and their long term effects than I am an apple.
Thanks Laura!
I’m not a good label reader – too busy and keep thinking I’m going to prioritize it – but haven’t. I do not like shock media which I think this could have been a little bit – sorta like Fox news – oh, wait did I just say that?
I have been really good though lately at avoiding buying apple juice for a totally different reason. The high sugar content. I’m too worn out to fight my kids on having the watered down version (they got a few too many tastes of mom or dad’s apple juice and figured us out). It’s just easier to not have it in the house, period. I’m not planning on never buying it again, just trying to limit it and if in the meantime it limits our possible arsenic exposure, well, good for me.
We were in the same boat, the brands mentioned are not the ones we buy…. but still I say where there is smoke there could be fire. Think about when second hand smoke was first being discussed as a problem and it got investigated more and more and now I bet a majority of mamas here wouldn’t think twice about asking a complete stranger to put out their cigarette if they were within 5 feet of a federal gov’t building if our kid was with us. There is now a law, right, about having to be some “safe” distance away from said building? Anyway, I just think this may spawn some more research. Sometimes it is a foolis waste of money. Sometimes we learn something totally unrelated as a result of new research. And, sometimes new research confirms old research.
This all reminds me of how I bought a huge bag of protein powder at Costco last year after attending a nutrition/child development seminar and was concerned because someone mentioned that some protein powders have arsenic in the listed ingredients…. guess what? I never read the damn label for the protein powder I bought. I guess I have that syndrome that a lot of us have, it won’t happen to me. I get concerned about something but don’t take action to change it. I’m really digging a hole to avoid winning Mother of the Year!
You are such an informative writer Maegan. I also remember reading that the arsenic was 3-4 parts per billion. Per Billion! That doesn’t seem like a lot, but then I don’t know. Arsenic at all doesn’t sound good. I also read that there might be further studies needed about Organic arsenic metabolizing into Inorganic in the body…
According to the Environmental Working Group, apples are the number one fruit with most pesticide content. number one. so, there’s that. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/
We don’t really drink apple juice anymore. My son was chugging it like water at one point and was going through 16-24 ounces a day when he was 3 and 4. Our doctor pretty much forbade me from giving it to him because of the high sugar content. I felt horrible about it.
I agree with Joann that this discussion whether salacious in it’s origin (i’m talking to you, Dr. Oz) probably opens the door for further research in general and information on pesticides.
great article!
Thanks for this great article! Definitely puts my mind at ease. We try to buy local and/or organic in general and weren’t too worried about arsenic in our juice but I’ve seen some of the stories on this and cringe thinking of the parents who don’t do their research on their own before believing claims like this.
And I agree with some previous comments, the one thing I would be worried about with juice consumption is the sugar content. However since both of my children have issues with poop, we stick with un-watered down juices to get the full benefit of the natural sugars (along with a probiotic and yogurt, etc). And most foods/drinks are ok when in limited portions.
Danielle recently posted..Firefly Wellness Review and Giveaway {Massage Therapist and Esthetician in San Diego}