Arsenic... in my juice??

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Proud to be a Georgia Southern Eagle! With another win, we will be heading to the third round of playoffs! It was a good friend of mine, Emmy's, 21st birthday!  But, on a more serious note... I found this article this morning and thought I would share. I am always so interested in what the FDA will allow in our food and drink. This time, Arsenic, in our fruit juices, specially apple juice.
Various brands of apple juice and apple sauce were tested and unfortunately one sample of Mott’s Apple Juice registered 55 parts per billion of arsenic. What is the big deal you ask? 55 parts per billion is more than five times the level of arsenic that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows in drinking water. Read on...
Originally on Dr. Oz, this issue has sparked quite the controversy. Catching heat from the FDA after he announced the high levels of Arsenic in apple juice, the FDA has said they will now regulate this more. After this was announced, a consumer group by the name of Consumer Union, published a report on more than 80 juices (most being apple juice). They found that more than 10% had higher levels of arsenic that the FDA had approved, and that one-fourth of the samples had higher levels of arsenic in it that bottled water.
"Arsenic levels in apple juice reached as high as 14 parts per billion, or ppb, and the highest level in grape juices hit nearly 25 ppb. The tap water standard is 10 ppb and bottled water is 5 ppb. No FDA limit currently exists for juice — there's only a "level of concern" set at 23 ppb."-- The Salt


"We calculated that level so that if a child drank 4 to 6 ounces of juice daily, they would be under the daily limit of arsenic intake," Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Union. "It would give them a one in 1000 risk for skin, bladder and lung cancer."

Okay, well I'm not sure what child drinks 4-6 ounces of juice per day... that's not even equivalent to 1 CUP (8 oz). In the case that children drink way more juice then recommended, where is the FDA in regulating these levels of arsenic?

How is this stuff getting in our juice?

"It could be from pesticides lingering in the soil or the water used throughout the juice-making process," according to Denise Wilson, associate professor at the University of Washington. "Arsenic is like ice cream to apple trees." 
Being that now most of our concentrate for juices comes from China, where pesticide regulation is far less than anywhere else, could this be the culprit? We are importing more than ever from China, with only 2% being inspected. With a majority of these products going straight to our children, do you want to take the risk?

YAY FDA, yet again, no surprise in what your regulating.#MAJORLETDOWN.

Hey, ladies and gents, its almost break! I know this week is going to be tough, but lets buckle down and get through it!

HAPPY MONDAY!