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Arsenic Limits in Apple Juice Finalized by FDA 10 Years Later

June 1, 2023 - from Bloomberg Law

"Inorganic arsenic in apple juices shouldn’t exceed 10 parts per billion under guidance finalized by the FDA Thursday—nearly a decade after the agency first proposed the limit.

"The final guidance contains nonbinding recommendations for juice manufacturers. It is another step in the Food and Drug Administration’s “Closer to Zero” action plan, which includes planned goals to help lower early childhood exposure to toxic heavy metals as much as possible.

"he agency has prioritized apple juice, baby foods, and other products commonly consumed by young children, due to studies that have linked early heavy metal consumption to slowed development and other serious health issues.

"Food safety analysts have identified inorganic arsenic, a particular form of arsenic, as one of the greatest concerns in baby foods, and a 2019 review of 14 studies on inorganic arsenic published in Chemical Research in Toxicology found consistent evidence demonstrating a link between early exposure to the heavy metal and an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.