You do know that arsenic is a naturally occuring compound?
?
Quoting MlkandCookies:You will if you are eating cereal bars with arsenic...
Questions and Answers about Arsenic in Food and Beverages
What is arsenic and why is it in our food supply?
Arsenic
is a naturally occurring element in our environment. It is widely
distributed within the earth’s crust. It enters the environment through
both natural and manmade sources such as mineral ore processing or from
herbicides used in various agricultural applications. Arsenic may be
present in many foods at trace levels through the soil, environment,
processing, growing conditions and water sources such as groundwater.
What type of arsenic has been found in fruit juice products?
Organic and inorganic forms of arsenic have both been found in fruit juice products.
Is one type of arsenic more harmful than the other?
Yes.
The inorganic or manmade forms of arsenic are more harmful than the
naturally-occurring organic forms. Organic forms of arsenic are
essentially harmless.
In which foods and beverages can arsenic be detected?
The
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which provides guidance for
food processors in the U.S., has been tracking arsenic in foods and
beverages for decades in its Total Diet Study. Through its toxic
elements program FDA does additional surveillance on heavy metals such
as lead and arsenic and will include increased sampling for products
like juice and juice concentrate as needed. Arsenic can be expected in
many foods at extremely low levels as foods are ultimately from plants
grown in earth which essentially everywhere naturally contains low
levels of arsenic.
Are apple and other juice products safe to drink?
Yes.
For naturally occurring elements such as arsenic, the FDA evaluates all
available data to determine that the levels are safe based on dietary
exposure, consumption and public health risk factors. The FDA
determines the total health risks from exposure of arsenic and other
naturally occurring elements from all food sources. FDA’s sampling for
arsenic does not indicate a safety concern for these products at this
time.
What’s being done to ensure the safety of juice products?
FDA
requires all juice producers, whether large or small, to implement good
manufacturing practices and comply with a strict safety protocol for
juice processing. A Juice Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
(HACCP) – a safety regulation established by FDA requires juice
companies to evaluate and address any biological, chemical or physical
hazards that may occur during processing. In addition to HACCP, growers
and suppliers are provided guidance on Good Agricultural Practices
(GAPs) to minimize the introduction of any potential hazardous materials
during growing and harvesting.
How does the food and beverage industry ensure the safety of products from other countries?
All
ingredients, regardless of their country of origin must adhere to FDA’s
requirements for safety. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of
2011 provides additional requirements to ensure food and food
ingredients imported into the U.S. are safe for all consumers.
Putting the Risk in Perspective: Here’s what you need to Know . . .
The
fact of the matter is that trace levels of naturally occurring elements
such as arsenic can be detected in a number of foods and beverages.
Under FDA’s toxic elements program, the agency monitors the level of
naturally occurring contaminants in foods like fruit juice and fruit
juice concentrates. Sampling thus far does not indicate a safety
concern for these products. Food safety is of utmost importance for
government agencies, food producers and retailers. They are all
committed to providing a safe and affordable food supply.
Additional Resources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Apple Juice is Safe to Drink
The fat-soluble form of arsenic, if you get it in your diet, is going to go straight through your breastmilk. It's the fat-soluble form that bioaccumulates.
Breastmilk can be wonderful, but to a point it's only as good as your diet, a lot of people don't understand that.
Quoting MonicaV1982:?
I think her point was that we (typically) don't have to worry about poisoning our babies with our breastmilk, whereas there have been numerous stories lately in the news about bad formula...something formula using mothers actually do have to think about.
Thing is the arsenic is food is naturally occuring, and kept at safe levels. It is the inorganic arsenic that we need to worry about.
Quoting MlkandCookies:The fat-soluble form of arsenic, if you get it in your diet, is going to go straight through your breastmilk. It's the fat-soluble form that bioaccumulates.
Breastmilk can be wonderful, but to a point it's only as good as your diet, a lot of people don't understand that.
Quoting MonicaV1982:?
Except for foods like fish, which tend to accumulate arsenic-lipid compounds. Because they aren't water soluble they produce a much higher health risk. It is also in pesticides.
Yes it occurs naturally in small amounts, but there are a lot of things we do to our food that concentrates it.
Quoting MonicaV1982:Thing is the arsenic is food is naturally occuring, and kept at safe levels. It is the inorganic arsenic that we need to worry about.
Quoting MlkandCookies:The fat-soluble form of arsenic, if you get it in your diet, is going to go straight through your breastmilk. It's the fat-soluble form that bioaccumulates.
Breastmilk can be wonderful, but to a point it's only as good as your diet, a lot of people don't understand that.
Quoting MonicaV1982:?
In ER with baby
- MrsAdorkable
on Feb. 16, 2012 at 11:57 PM