FDA proposes limit on arsenic in apple juice

{mosads}”Overall the supply of apple juice is very safe and does not represent a threat to public health,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told The Associated Press.

“We decided to put forward this proposed action level to give guidance to industry and to assure ongoing safety and quality.”

In a notice, the FDA described the risks of exposure to inorganic arsenic, which include skin lesions, developmental problems, diabetes and other conditions. The compound has been classified as a carcinogen.

Democrats in Congress praised the FDA’s decision.

“This guidance is a welcome step in the right direction to help ensure parents don’t have to worry when giving their child a cup of juice,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in a statement.

He added that the FDA should issue a formal rule on the new standards.