Apple Juice Raises Controversy Between FDA and Dr. Oz!

Juice is already getting a bad rap for its high sugar content, but could there be an even more dangerous ingredient? Dr. Oz, who has a TV show by the same name, says yes, there is, and that ingredient is arsenic.

On his show, Dr. Oz revealed the results of an investigative report on levels of arsenic in apple juice. Out of the 36 samples that were investigated, from five different brands of apple juice across three American cities, 10 samples contained arsenic levels that were higher than EPA regulations for drinking water.

The test was part of a series called “Things to Fear in Your Food”.

But before you panic, it’s worthwhile to look at what the FDA is saying. They’re saying that the Dr. Oz Show got it wrong because they were looking at total levels of arsenic in apple juice. Apparently, there is a distinction between the arsenic – some is “good”, or at least organic and natural, while some is “bad”, coming from chemicals and pesticides.

Furthermore, the test methods were not as in depth as many scientific tests, given there was only one round of testing, conducted at only one lab. Before the results were revealed, the FDA sent a letter to the show, saying that releasing the report would be “irresponsible and misleading”.

Still, even if the methods are flawed, the show did bring to light the fact that stricter regulations may need to be imposed by the FDA on food and beverage products that are imported from other countries as well as those in our country.

At SureBaby, we want to know what you think. Do you support Dr. Oz’s findings or the FDA’s response?  Will you be pouring your kids a glass of apple juice after school today? Let us know in the comments!