Arsenic in Apple Juice Puts More Pressure on Parents

on November 30, 2011 at 9:03 PM

sippy cups Like most people, I get frustrated when there are product recalls seemingly every other day. From cribs and strollers to formula and cars, it's unnerving when products we trust let us down and endanger the health and safety of our families. But what's even more frustrating -- infuriating really -- is when agencies, like, oh say, the FDA, try to tell us that something is safe for our children when it's quite obvious it's not.

If you recall, a couple of months back, Dr. Oz warned us that there's arsenic in our apple juice. OMG, arsenic in something that's a staple in most houses with children! That's bad, really bad, right? NO said the FDA, Dr. Oz is just an alarmist; it's all fine. Okay, phew, if the FDA says it's a bunch of malarkey, then we can all relax and start filling our kids' sippy cups with apple juice again, right?

WRONG.

Turns out Dr. Oz was right to sound the alarm. The Consumers Union recently did another test that indeed found scary levels of arsenic in apple juice. Great.

More on Apple Juice Controversy: FDA Says Dr. Oz Is Wrong About Arsenic in Apple Juice

As a parent this infuriates me. Not because we drink apple juice -- I can't stand the smell of it after a particularly bad babysitting job I had as a teenager -- but because it feels like as parents, we are all alone in this fight to keep our kids healthy. If we can't trust the FDA to help us keep them from harm in the foods they consume, there's really no one we can trust ... except ourselves.

It's just such a stark reminder that as much as we want to place our trust in doctors, labels, and other sources of authority, they do not always know best. We can't just blindly accept what anyone says without doing our own due diligence. I wish we could -- it would certainly be easier that way -- but the truth is we can't be lazy if we want to be good parents.

More on Apple Juice Controversy: Dr. Oz Was Right About Hidden Dangers in Apple Juice

We have to not only research the products we let into our children's lives, but we also have to roar loudly when there are suspicions that they're not safe. We have to demand that they be proven safe. While mistakes happen, these are our children's lives at stake, and there's just no room for errors this big.

Does this recent study about arsenic in apple juice infuriate you? How much due diligence do you do when it comes to what your kids eat and drink?

Image via {justjennifer}/Flickr

About the author Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

Filed Under: a mom's life, in the news, toddler health

Comments (60)

angevil53

on Nov 30, 2011 at 9:18 PM

i found it very amusing they said there is a higher level of arsenic in juice bc children drink more water than juice...right. my son is the only child i know that drinks water and that's if he's had his juice for the day and i wont give him more. most kids i know are on a chocolate milk or juice diet basically.

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H.I.S.

on Nov 30, 2011 at 11:33 PM

Exactly why we just eat the apples instead of buying apple juice...

littlelambe

on Dec 1, 2011 at 1:13 AM

My dd doesnt drink juice. I'm not a fan and never will be.

phoenixmom2011

on Dec 1, 2011 at 3:21 AM

There is way to much sugar in juice, and my son will only get the 3 8oz cups of milk a day that is recommended, and real fruits and veggies. Ask any good doctor and they will tell you it is better to eat the fruit.

missnickia

on Dec 1, 2011 at 7:29 AM

My oldest won't drink white milk. Her Dr. told me to put a small amount of favoring in it. She was ok with the extra sugar because my oldest was very active. My youngest chugs milk like there is no tomorrow. lol They both love water and tea.

suzzanna

on Dec 1, 2011 at 9:17 AM

wow, this is ridiculous! it seems like every week it is something new! we buy apple juice every time I go to the store. I always make sure it says sugar free..I actually thought I was doing something good when actually I was harming my child. We buy fruits as well apples, strawberries, pineapples, bananas so my daughter probably wont miss apple juice as much.

TexasWife

on Dec 1, 2011 at 10:50 AM

banging head into wall that is all.

chey88

on Dec 1, 2011 at 11:09 AM

If the juice was so "dangerouse" or whatever, wouldn't we all be dead by now? I think it's just something they want to scare people with cause they are bored. My dd drinks juice, apple juice at that, all the time and she's fine. My dad drinks it all the time and he's fine. So yeah, not believing that crap.

HeatherReneeB

on Dec 1, 2011 at 11:18 AM

So should we stop eating apples as well, in case someone accidentally eats the seeds? Because the arsenic is coming from the apple seeds. (which, if you think about it, means that when they make the juice they are using the seeds!) We make our own apple juice, so I'm not worried. And this just makes me not trust the FDA even more..

Facebook comment from Cassondra Monique

on Dec 1, 2011 at 11:34 AM

Ok, let me clear up some silly misconceptions here:

1) The arsenic is coming from the water they mix with apple juice concentrate as well as the pesticides used on the apples.

2) All tap water also contains arsenic so those who think they are super smart because their kids drink more of that are missing the bus.

3) All non-organic apples will contain arsenic because of the pesticides used. Since arsenic is all around us, even organic apples may contain very low levels. Eating the apple, especially the skin, will still expose your kids and depending on the apple, it could be a higher level than found in the processed juice.

4) Apple seeds contain cyanide NOT arsenic. You'd have to consume hundreds, possibly thousands, of them in a short period to hurt you.

5) Kids shouldn't be drinking more than 6 oz of juice a day anyways and if they are getting more you're giving them a higher possibility of many problems, the least of which is the arsenic.