No short-term threat from arsenic in toddler juice: Health Canada
Monday, March 17, 2008 | 10:28 AM ET
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.
Continue Article
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.
Recalls and Advisories »
Recent Topics
- Diving equipment recalled
- Friday, October 2, 2009
- Wet n’ Wild eye makeup remover recalled over contamination
- Friday, September 25, 2009
- Thermostat with built-in GFCI recalled over electric shock risk
- Friday, September 25, 2009
- Magzoid magnetic construction toys recalled
- Friday, September 25, 2009
- Big Lots Stores, Inc. recalls bunk beds over collapse and fall danger
- Wednesday, September 23, 2009
- Subscribe to Recalls and Advisories
Categories
- Health & Food (386)
- Cars & Vehicles (74)
- Children's Products (484)
- Home & Recreation (488)
Archives
- October 2009 (1)
- September 2009 (21)
- August 2009 (39)
- July 2009 (51)
- June 2009 (48)
- May 2009 (37)
- April 2009 (54)
- March 2009 (73)
- February 2009 (56)
- January 2009 (53)
- December 2008 (25)
- November 2008 (17)
- October 2008 (53)
- September 2008 (52)
- August 2008 (52)
- July 2008 (46)
- June 2008 (32)
- May 2008 (35)
- April 2008 (31)
- March 2008 (31)
- February 2008 (26)
- January 2008 (36)
- December 2007 (43)
- November 2007 (45)
- October 2007 (45)
- September 2007 (22)
- August 2007 (39)
- July 2007 (42)
- June 2007 (39)
- May 2007 (29)
- April 2007 (23)
- March 2007 (42)
- February 2007 (36)
- January 2007 (30)
- December 2006 (46)
- November 2006 (39)
- October 2006 (33)
- September 2006 (41)
- August 2006 (37)