FDA has issued final guidance for the food industry entitled “Action Level for Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice.” The final guidance identifies the action level of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic in apple juice, which was issued in draft by the agency 10 years ago, in 2013.
Since the release of the draft guidance, the agency has identified some apple juice samples with inorganic arsenic levels higher than 10 ppb. FDA expects that the new action level, though non-binding, will encourage manufacturers to reduce levels.
The agency will continue monitoring arsenic levels in the product and, if testing identifies levels higher than the limit it will consider this action level, in addition to other factors, to determine whether to take enforcement action. FDA says that, because lower arsenic levels are more protective of public health, it expects to revisit this action level as part of its “Closer to Zero” action plan.
Leave a Reply