Potara A large recall involving apple juice from several major retailers, including Aldi, Walmart, and Walgreens, has expanded due to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic. Initially, the recall began with 10,000 cases of Walmart’s Great Value brand, but it has now grown to affect over 133,000 cases from other brands like Aldi's Nature’s Nectar and other supermarket brands.
The recall involves 64-ounce plastic bottles, with best-by dates around March 2025, sold at Aldi in multiple states across the U.S. such as Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and more. The concern stems from the levels of inorganic arsenic, which can pose significant health risks if consumed in high amounts over time. Though small amounts of arsenic can be found naturally in many foods and drinks, the levels in these products exceeded the FDA's guidelines, which set the safety limit at 10 parts per billion.
Inorganic arsenic is more toxic than its organic counterpart, and long-term exposure can lead to serious health problems, including an increased risk of cancer. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning can include vomiting, abdominal pain, and numbness, though there have been no reports of illnesses associated with this recall so far.
The impacted juice products were manufactured by Refresco Beverages, a Florida-based company, and sold under various brand names at stores like Market Basket and Walgreens, in addition to Aldi and Walmart. Customers who purchased these products are advised to discard them or return them to the store for a full refund.
The recall is part of a broader effort to ensure consumer safety, as monitoring for heavy metals like arsenic in food products has become increasingly rigorous in recent years.