Apple Juice, Arsenic, and Risk: Dr. Oz vs. the FDA

Back in September on 2011, The Dr. Oz Show reported that they "uncovered that some of the best-known brands of apple juice contain arsenic" and that "10% of apple juice samples had total arsenic levels above the drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion." 

Not so fast, exclaimed the FDA, "We have explained to you that arsenic occurs naturally in many foods in both inorganic and organic forms and that only the inorganic forms of arsenic are toxic, depending on the amount. We have advised you that the test for total arsenic DOES NOT distinguish inorganic arsenic from organic arsenic."

"Oz has been redeemed and his claims substantiated!" trumpted Chuck Norris on his website. This was based on an upcoming January 2012 Consumer Reports investigation where they tested 85 samples of apple juice for both total and inorganic arsenic, concluding that "Our research suggests that the [total arsenic] standard should be 3 ppb."

This presentation will attempt to address three recommendations put forward by these findings:

1. Is a limit of 3 ppb total arsenic proposed by Consumer Reports waranted?
2. Should the arsenic in apple juice be compared to a drinking water MCL?
3. Does the country of origin make a difference in the level of arsenic found?