Welch’s shouldn’t be slapping a heart-health icon on its grape juice and other products, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. In fact, says the group, not only does Welch’s juice not improve heart health, it may, on balance, do harm by contributing to insulin resistance and obesity.

The consumer-advocacy organization Consumer Reports tested 45 fruit juices, including apple, grape and juice blends, and found that 21 of them had “concerning levels” of cadmium, arsenic and/or lead, according to a new report.

Five samples of apple juice and four of grape juice had total arsenic levels exceeding the 10 ppb federal limit for bottled and drinking water. Levels in the apple juices ranged from 1.1 to 13.9 ppb, and grape-juice levels were even higher, 5.9 to 24.7 ppb.

Fruit juices may contain harmful heavy metals, Consumer Reports…

• Trader Joe’s Joe’s Apple Juice.
• Minute Maid 100% Apple Juice.
• Juicy Juice 100% Juice, Fruit Punch.
• Minute Maid 100% Juice, Fruit Punch.
• Mott’s 100% Juice, Apple White Grape.

Another potential source of inorganic arsenic in apple juice is water used by manufacturers to dilute concentrate to prepare ready-to-drink juice. Well water from areas of the U.S. with naturally high arsenic levels in groundwater could contain higher levels of arsenic.

Apple juice is one source of exposure to inorganic arsenic from food. The remaining four samples in that assignment with total arsenic levels above 10 ppb had inorganic arsenic levels below 10 ppb. However, FDA has identified apple juice samples with inorganic arsenic levels above 10 ppb in previous years (Ref. 7).

Where is the arsenic? Apples, pears and grapes – absorb some arsenic that occurs naturally in soil or came from past use of pesticides. Apple, pear and grape juice – may contain low amounts of arsenic since it is present in the fruit.

Overall, CR says, heavy metal levels in fruit juices have declined since their last testing. But in the new report, every juice contained at least one of the four metals tested, and 47%, or 21, had concerning levels of cadmium, inorganic arsenic, and/or lead. None had concerning levels of mercury.

As with arsenic, no federal limit exists for lead in juice. Apple and grape juice constitute a significant source of dietary exposure to arsenic, according to our analysis of federal health data from 2003 through 2008. Children drink a lot of juice.

“Minimizing consumption of juices and other foods that have heavy metals can reduce the chance of negative outcomes in the future.” In 2011, CR found elevated levels of inorganic arsenic and lead in apple and grape juices.

(EPA, 1998) ARSENIC TRIOXIDE reacts vigorously with fluorine at ordinary temperatures [Mellor 9:34 1946-47]. Dissolves in aqueous acids. Incompatible with tannic acid, infusions of cinchona and other vegetable astringent infusions and decoctions, and with iron in solution [Merck].

In adults with newly diagnosed APL that is low risk. In patients whose disease has not gotten better or has relapsed after retinoid and anthracycline chemotherapy. Arsenic trioxide is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.