Health Canada reassured parents Monday that the levels of arsenic in two brands of pear juice recalled last week do not pose an immediate threat.

The federal department said Monday that the recall by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Loblaws Inc. was a precaution to prevent long-term exposure to arsenic.

The levels, while being higher than would normally be found in this type of juice, are not high enough to be a risk to children or adults from short-term exposure.

Health Canada considers short-term exposure to be several weeks or months, while long-term exposure would be over many years or decades.

The CFIA said in a news release last week that there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the products.

The two products listed in the warning are the one-litre President's Choice Organics Pear Juice from Concentrate for Toddlers and the 128-millilitre Beech Nut Pear Juice from concentrate with Vitamin C added.

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The products have been distributed across the country, the agency said.

Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal that may be carcinogenic and may pose developmental risks to children.

It occurs naturally in the environment. Low background levels of arsenic may be found in a wide variety of foods and generally reflect normal accumulation from the environment.

Health Canada advises consumers who bought the juices not to drink them.

However, if consumers, including children, have already consumed the drink, there is no need for other actions since even the highest levels of arsenic found in these products are not high enough to pose a health risk when taken in as part of a normal diet over the short term.

The elevated levels of arsenic were found as a result of Health Canada's regular food surveillance activities to collect data about the food supply.

Recall notice