Arsenic in Apple Juice

[mpls_mm]

I am far more tired of the FDA and EPA than Dr Oz...They worry me more too...

 

[cornflake]

I'm tired of quack TV doctors who think they know more than the FDA or USDA.

Jim

Honestly. I think though, that this is a symptom of a much larger problem. There's been, for years, in some places, among some people in all places, a ... I don't know, backlash? against the 'elite', the educated, the scientists, etc.

The willingness to believe stuff that makes no sense rather than science or to discredit science and actual experts in the field or, worse imo, to somehow come to the belief that every opinion, thought, web page, idea is equal in value and possibly equally valid, is just bizarre and troubling to me.

It's not all equally valid or likely, all opnions do not carry the same weight, and science is a good thing. The whole 'well I'm not gonna believe some fancy scientists, it snowed yesterday, hah global warming is a scam' type of attitude is just.. .it's not helping us as a people or a country any.

 

[mpls_mm]

I am all for science, and don't watch TV doctors, but when a couple of corporations control so much of the food supply, and many of the former "elite" from those corporations control the FDA and figure so prominently in government offices, it makes me a little nervous. The movement, the backlash, is against control of our food supply, not against science.

 

[Geoff_M]

I am all for science, and don't watch TV doctors, but when a couple of corporations control so much of the food supply, and many of the former "elite" from those corporations control the FDA and figure so prominently in government offices, it makes me a little nervous. The movement, the backlash, is against control of our food supply, not against science.

As someone who working in an industry regulated by the FDA, you have no idea how hilarious it is when I hear such generalizations about how the FDA gets led round by the nose by those that it regulates. Yes, the FDA isn't perfect, and yes there are a number of FDA staffers that used to work in regulated industries... but that's because that's where the expertise is (perhaps you'd prefer that civil engineers oversee things?).

To me it's mostly about a lack of scientific understanding than it is a "backlash" against it.

 

[Ceila]

Now your questioning my diagnosis?? What kind of person ARE YOU???? TROLL!!! LOOK IT UP ON WIKI!!! There is a pre-cancerious skin condition that is considered a STAGE 0....it's the stage RIGHT BEFORE CANCER. HOW PATHETIC of you to question that. AND honestly I thought wikipedia was a good source for information. IS it a RULE that I post my sources. I don't owe you JACK. I'm sorry your upset you don't agree with what I believe in....but you don't have to attack me and call me a liar ....which is basically what you did.

Wow, calm down there. Read what I wrote - I never questioned your diagnosis. I questioned your claim that the expert, your dermatologist, missed something that your other doctor, who is not an expert in skin disorders, found. You stated that your dermatologist had missed the spot a month before. What I am saying is that perhaps he/she didn't miss it. I am suggesting that, since it was stage 0, it wasn't visible one month before the second doctor saw it. I hope your treatment is going well.

As for wikipedia, there are two issues with what you posted. First, wikipedia is incredibly unreliable, since anyone can add information to it. If one is going to use information from a source and post it as fact, that person should ensure the reliability of the source (just assuming something is reliable isn't the same as verifying reliability). Second, your post did not cite the source, making it sound as if you wrote it. That's plagiarism.

 

[mpls_mm]

As someone who working in an industry regulated by the FDA, you have no idea how hilarious it is when I hear such generalizations about how the FDA gets led round by the nose by those that it regulates. Yes, the FDA isn't perfect, and yes there are a number of FDA staffers that used to work in regulated industries... but that's because that's where the expertise is (perhaps you'd prefer that civil engineers oversee things?).

To me it's mostly about a lack of scientific understanding than it is a "backlash" against it.

Then why does the UCS find when it surveys FDA employees, many feel they cannot do their jobs properly because of industry and financial restraints? In the most recent survey in 2010, 8,000 FDA and USDA employees were surveyed and found that "special interests inhibit the ability to protect our food supply." That is from the FDA inspectors themselves. Just like any job they have their limits. Maybe people feel the Union of Concerned Scientists is a crackpot organization, but I respect their work. That might be my lack of scientific understanding!

My employees do their job but certainly don't know my personal interests or my goals. They know what I tell them.
I work in the ag industry and see quite a bit. I sell to many farms and even government agencies. I express my views openly and have really good conversations with many government and military employees and average farmers. I enjoy my business and enjoy when people have intelligent discourse and aren't insulting or condescending.

 

[Geoff_M]

Then why does the UCS find when it surveys FDA employees, many feel they cannot do their jobs properly because of industry and financial restraints?.

You're blurring a couple of issues here. You can certainly argue that there aren't enough FDA/USDA inspectors in the field, but what do "financial restraints" have to do with the regulated industries?

My point is that if people knew the concern that sweeps our facility when the words "An FDA inspector is here" are repeated (and we hear it at least once a year), knowing that the inspector has broad powers that can be brought to bare that can result in things from issuing violation letters, to invalidating product approvals and taking them off the market, to ordering recalls, and/or fines. On top of that, if people knew how much of my work efforts are expended in order to prevent such negative findings of possible future FDA inspections or audits, you would understand why I, and my co-workers, shake our heads when we read people posit that the FDA is "controlled" by those that they are supposed to regulate and therefore do our bidding. Man, I can only dream that were really the case!

 

[Free4Life11]

Instead of drinking juice, eat a whole organic apple.

I have a question for the DIS experts. I'm trying to avoid artificial sweeteners, so I've been buying Pure Via which is made by Pepsico. Is this safe? Is this stevia? Is there a company that makes packets of pure 100% stevia?

PureVia's ingredients are (not necessarily in this order): Reb A, AKA stevia extract, erythritol, isomaltulose, cellulose powder, natural flavors

 

[jenrose66]

It may not, but other countries don't have the same laws we do. I know Chilean grapes are suppose to be one of the worst as far as pesticide residue.

My cousin ate a peach and her tongue and throat started to swell and she needed to be treated at the hospital. Her peach was from Chili (or some other South American Country). The doctor told her that the reaction was not from the fruit but from the pesticide. After that happened to her I refuse to buy any produce that isn't from the US.

 

[jenrose66]

How many years of medical school and experience do you think he has? Just b/c you specialize in a certain field of medicine, does not make you ignorant of other medical issues. These doctors have to train in ALL aspects of medicine before they even graduate from medical school.... I know.... I grew up in a family full of doctors. Besides, not everybody is one dimensional. Just saying.....


AND I am not saying he knows EVERYTHING... I have read tons of reports about what the FDA has done and NOT done. It's sad really.... innocent people getting sick for no reason but allowing these companies to get rich. In the end, it's all about the $$$. When it compromises the health of others, that's when I get upset.

This is how I feel. I know that Dr. Oz may try and sensationalize his show, but he was clear about saying that this juice isn't going to kill your kids. He simply said we should know what is in our food and where it comes from.

Personally I'm tired of companies using sub par ingredients to make food. Why do the apples need to come from China? After watched the show I sent an email to Juicy Juice posing this question. I was told that the US can only provide 20% of the worlds need for apple juice concentrate. I call bull on that!

Luckily I had my generic store brand Wegmans Apple Juice in my fridge this week and was happy to see that all of their concentrate comes from the USA. No need to purchase Juicy Juice again.

 

[cornflake]

This is how I feel. I know that Dr. Oz may try and sensationalize his show, but he was clear about saying that this juice isn't going to kill your kids. He simply said we should know what is in our food and where it comes from.

That's sensationalizing though - as arsenic is in apple juice because arsenic is in apples, all apples, and always has been. So what was his point besides fearmongering?

What's next? Peaches can kill you because they contain cyanide - because he cares and just wants you to know what's in your food?

 

[jenrose66]

That's sensationalizing though - as arsenic is in apple juice because arsenic is in apples, all apples, and always has been. So what was his point besides fearmongering?

What's next? Peaches can kill you because they contain cyanide - because he cares and just wants you to know what's in your food?

In China apples are allowed to be sprayed with arsenic laced pesticide. The apples are then ground up and the pesticide with the arsenic is in the Apple Juice Concentrate. That was what he was referring to....and I think that is a legitimate concern, not just with apples but with any foods coming from a country with different standards than the US. If we can't do something with our food supply here, why should we be allowed to import a food from another country that doesn't adhere to US standards?

 

[cornflake]

In China apples are allowed to be sprayed with arsenic laced pesticide. The apples are then ground up and the pesticide with the arsenic is in the Apple Juice Concentrate. That was what he was referring to....and I think that is a legitimate concern, not just with apples but with any foods coming from a country with different standards than the US. If we can't do something with our food supply here, why should we be allowed to import a food from another country that doesn't adhere to US standards?

That's not supposed to happen, the FDA does inspections to prevent banned pesticide-residue laden produce from entering the country, but of course they can't catch everything.

However, as he used one lab, didn't even double test and never made any effort to separate out what arsenic may have come from pesticides and which may have been endemic to the apples themselves, sorry, I don't buy he had any intent besides fearmongering for ratings. If he had, I'd think he'd have made some effort to get actual information.

 

[Normangirls]

I'm working my through reading all of the responses, but here's a few things for you to think about:

1. In the United States, we pay an average of 11% of our income on food -- the least amount of anyone anywhere (and most of that goes to the cost of fuel needed to transport it).
2. We have the safest food supply of anyone, ever, anywhere (this does not mean we are perfect, but we're better than we ever have been).
3. The greatest threat to the overall safety of our food is imported food that comes from countries with no EPA, FDA, etc. (like canned beef from South America, or fruit from Mexico).

Overall, we should be greatful for what we've accomplished in just the last few decades in this area, while continuing to research and develop new and better ways to grow and process our food.