SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) – Martinelli’s has issued a recall for a single lot of apple juice that tested “above the guidance action level” for inorganic arsenic.
S. Martinelli & Company issued the recall on April 16, after the state of Maryland found samples from a production lot of one-liter Martinelli’s apple juice glass bottles that contained elevated levels of inorganic arsenic, per the guidance set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Specifically, the affected lot of apple juice tested at 11.6 parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic, or 1.6 ppb over the 10 ppb identified as the “action level” by the FDA.
“The product was shipped between March 13, 2023, and Sept. 27, 2023, with the majority of the product shipped before July 28, 2023,” the company said in its recall notice.
The recalled juices were sold in one-liter (33.8 fl. oz.) bottles with “Best By” dates of “09MAR2026” or “10MAR2026” printed on the front of the bottle, above the label.
The FDA, which in June issued guidance lowering the action level for inorganic arsenic in apple juice from 23 parts per billion to 10 ppb, states that elevated levels of inorganic arsenic can pose a health hazard.
“Exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with adverse human health effects, including cancer, diabetes, adverse birth outcomes, and cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental effects,” the FDA wrote in June.
Arsenic can naturally occur in nature, the FDA said, though it can also be present due to past pesticide usage, fracking, or other “human activity.”
“It is not possible to entirely remove arsenic from the environment or from the food supply,” the FDA added.
S. Martinelli & Company said there had been no reports of illnesses or complaints at the time of the recall notice.