Congressman Frank Pallone's (NJ-06) Bill Seeks to Protect Children from Arsenic in Fruit Juices

Pallone visits New Brunswick, NJ preschool to call for FDA action to address the presence of arsenic and lead in fruit juices and baby formula

Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06), Senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, was joined by consumer health advocates and concerned parents on Wednesday at the Acelero Learning Early Childhood Center in New Brunswick, NJ to call for the passage of the “Arsenic Prevention and Protection from Lead Exposure in Juice Act of 2012’’ or “APPLE Juice Act of 2012.” The bill, which was introduced by Congressman Pallone, will protect children from arsenic and lead in fruit juices.

A Consumer Reports investigation revealed alarmingly high levels of arsenic and lead in apple and grape juice in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health also recently found shockingly high levels of arsenic in baby formulas made from organic brown rice syrups. In addition to the APPLE Juice Act, Pallone has sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking that the Agency take immediate action to avoid high levels of arsenic in baby formulas.

Pallone joined with Karina Wilkinson of the Food & Water Watch, Gideon Weissman of the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group, Chuck Bell from Consumers Union and concerned New Jersey parents to demand action to prevent high toxin levels in drinks, and now food, primarily consumed by children.

“Young children are the most vulnerable to the harmful health effects of chronic arsenic exposure, such as brain damage, so the high levels of arsenic and lead found in fruit juices and infant formula are absolutely unacceptable,” said Pallone. “That is why I intend to put significant pressure on the FDA, starting today with a letter to the Commissioner, to act now and go even further beyond the specifications in my bill. FDA has a public health duty to protect babies and children from arsenic exposure – whether its fruit juice or baby formula.”

The disturbing Consumer Reports study found ten percent of the sampled juices from five brands contained arsenic levels that exceeded federal drinking-water standards, and 25 percent contained lead levels higher than the federal standards for bottled water.

The APPLE Juice Act requires that the FDA establish standards for arsenic and lead in fruit juices in two years time. Currently the Agency has standards limiting these toxins for bottled water, but not fruit juices or food.

“New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is thrilled that Congressman Pallone is taking action to protect children's health. Apple juice is often the first drink that babies and toddlers drink after milk, so it is shocking that many juices contain high levels of arsenic and lead, which can increase the risks of developmental health problems and certain types of cancer. Right now, children’s juice is less protected from toxic chemicals than bottled water. The APPLE Juice Act will change that, and give children the protection they deserve,” said Gideon Weissman, NJPIRG Program Associate.

“Food & Water Watch is pleased Congressman Pallone’s bill addresses high levels of arsenic in apple juice, an important public health issue. We have been deeply concerned about this issue since July when we wrote to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg with the Empire State Consumer Project asking that the agency set tolerance levels for arsenic in apple juice,” said Karina Wilkinson, Regional Organizer with Food & Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy group.

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Contact:
Ray Zaccaro
202-225-4671