Apple Juice Recall 2024: Walmart Recall Expands to Products Sold at Aldi, BJ's and Walgreens Due to Elevated Arsenic Levels

A recall of apple juice due to potentially harmful levels of arsenic has been expanded to include additional brands sold at several additional retailers across the country.

The initial voluntary recall by Refresco Beverages was first announced last month in a Class 2 enforcement report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and included 9,535 cases of Great Value 100% apple juice sold at Walmart. On Monday, the recall was expanded to a total of 133,500 cases of juice sold at several stores under different brand names in addition to Walmart.

According to the FDA report, the recalled product contains “inorganic arsenic in excess of the limit established in industry guidelines.”

“Consumer safety is always our top priority,” Tampa, Florida-based Refresco Beverages said in a new statement on its website. “On August 23, 2024, out of an abundance of caution, we voluntarily initiated a recall of some select lots of 100% apple juice products made using the supplier's concentrate when we became aware that previously manufactured products contained inorganic arsenic at levels just above the 10 ppb (parts per billion) action level set by the FDA in June 2023 in the FDA's final guidance to industry on the action level for inorganic arsenic in apple juice.”

“There are currently no known incidents caused by these products,” the statement continued. “We are working diligently to resolve the situation and encourage consumers to check the FDA's recall list … and use the information on their website to determine if they have any products affected by this proactive, voluntary recall.”

Apple juice recall expanded to include other brands and retailers

The recently expanded recall now includes juice sold at Aldi, BJ's Wholesale Club, Market Basket, Walgreens and Weis Markets under brands such as Nice! 100% Apple Juice and Clover Valley 100% Apple Juice.

Click here to view the FDA's full list of affected products.

Originally, Great Value brand apple juice, sold at Walmart in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, was the only brand recalled by Refresco Beverages.

Product details of recalled apple juice by store

The first wave of the contaminated Great Value beverages in question were sold in six-packs of 8-ounce plastic bottles with the UPC code 0-78742-29655-5. The product had a best-before date with the code DEC2824 CT89-6.

All products manufactured by Refresco Beverages US Inc., based in Tampa, Florida.

Below you will find details on the items affected by the new, expanded recall.

Walmart

The recalled products sold at Walmart include Great Value 8-ounce apple juice in six-pack plastic bottles with expiration dates of December 26 and 27, 2024, and Great Value 96-ounce apple juice with expiration dates of December 26, 27 and December 28, 2024.

The six-pack juice bottles were sold in stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. The 96-ounce containers were sold in Walmart stores in Indiana, Ohio, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and Virginia.

Aldi

Aldi is recalling Nature's Nectar 64-ounce plastic bottles of 100% apple juice with expiration dates of March 26 and 27, 2025. This product carries the UPC code 4099100036381 and was sold in Aldi stores in 16 states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin, according to a press release from Aldi US

Walgreens

Walgreens is recalling Nice! 100% Apple Juice (64-ounce bottles) with a best-before date of March 25, 2025. The products were sold in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Important foods

Key Food is recalling Urban Meadow 100% apple juice sold in 64-ounce bottles with a best-before date of March 26, 2025. The products were sold in stores in Pennsylvania.

BJs Wholesale Club

BJ's Wholesale Club is recalling 96-ounce bottles of Wellsley Farms 100% apple juice with a best-before date of March 26, 2025. These products were sold in Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Dollar-General

Dollar General is recalling Clover Valley 100% apple juice with a best before date of March 27, 2025. The product was sold at discount stores in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio and South Carolina.

White

Also affected by the expanded recall are Weis 100% apple juice bottles (64 ounces) with a best-before date of March 25, 2025. The products were sold in stores in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Market basket

The supermarket chain is recalling Market Basket 100% apple juice from concentrate in 64-ounce plastic bottles with a best-before date of March 25, 2025. The affected product was sold in Maine.

Lidl

Lidl is recalling 64-ounce plastic bottles of Solevita 100% Apple Juice with a best-before date of March 27, 2025. This product was sold in Virginia.

Company responds to apple juice recall due to arsenic content
In an earlier statement to ABC News at the start of the recall, a Refresco representative said, “We are aware that certain batches of the 100% apple juice we previously produced contain inorganic arsenic at levels just above the action level of 10 ppb (parts per billion) set forth in the FDA's final guidance to industry on the action level for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. The goal of this guidance is to minimize dietary intake of contaminants. For this reason, the affected products are being voluntarily recalled.”

The statement continued: “There are currently no reports of complaints or illnesses caused by the product. According to the FDA, it is not possible to completely prevent arsenic from entering the food supply. However, exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic can cause adverse health effects.”

The spokesperson added that “consumer safety and customer satisfaction are our top priorities” and that the company is “working diligently to rectify the situation.”