New Report Finds Heavy Metals in Popular Juice Brands — Here's What Parents Need to Know

Updated on 1/30/2019 at 9:40 AM

Being wary of naturally occurring sugar in fruit and fruit juice isn't news by any means, but it seems juice might be back in the spotlight for a very different reason. Consumer Reports just announced that it found potentially harmful levels of heavy metals in well-known fruit juice brands.

It tested 45 popular juice brands — including Trader Joe's, Minute Maid, Whole Foods, and Welch's — and discovered that nearly half of them had concerning levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium (details ahead).

Curious about the implications of this information, POPSUGAR spoke with James Dickerson, Consumer Reports's chief scientific officer, about the findings and the motivation for the study. "Consumer Reports first investigated heavy metals in juice back in 2011. Given the potential impact that heavy metals can have on the development of children, the juice findings from 2011, and our recent investigation into heavy metals in baby food, CR felt that this investigation was timely and more than appropriate," Dickerson noted.

While the findings are cause for concern, the study also found plenty of juice that's safe for families.

How do arsenic and other heavy metals affect children?

Exposing children to these metals can potentially increase the risk for lowered IQ and type 2 diabetes, and it also might lead to behavioral problems. "In some cases, drinking just four ounces a day — or half a cup — is enough to raise concern," Dickerson said. "The risk comes from chronic exposure," he continued. "Minimizing consumption of juices and other foods that have heavy metals can reduce the chance of negative outcomes in the future."

Which juice was tested?

Consumer Reports tested the following 24 brands: 365 Everyday Value (Whole Foods), Apple & Eve, Big Win (Rite Aid), Capri Sun, Clover Valley (Dollar General), Great Value (Walmart), Gerber, Good2Grow, Gold Emblem (CVS), Goya, Honest Kids, Juicy Juice, Looza, Market Pantry (Target), Minute Maid, Mott's, Nature's Own, Ocean Spray, Old Orchard, R.W. Knudsen, Simply Balanced (Target), Trader Joe's, Tree Top, and Welch's.

An overview of the findings

• Every product had measurable levels of at least one of these heavy metals: cadmium, inorganic arsenic, lead, or mercury.
• Of the 45 juices, 21 (47 percent) had concerning levels of cadmium, inorganic arsenic, and/or lead. (None contained concerning levels of mercury.)
• Seven of those 21 juices could harm children who drink four ounces (half a cup) or more a day; nine of them pose risks to kids at eight ounces (one cup) or more a day.
• Five of the products with elevated levels are juice boxes or pouches ranging from 4.0 to 6.75 ounces. These pose a risk to a child who drinks more than one box or pouch per day.
• Ten of the juices pose a risk to adults: five of them at four ounces or more a day, and five at eight ounces or more a day.
• Grape juice and juice blends had the highest average of heavy metal levels.
• Juice brands marketed for children did not fare better or worse than other juices.
• Organic juices did not have lower levels of heavy metals than conventional ones.

Juice with potential risk at one cup (eight ounces) or more per day

Cold Emblem 100% Apple Juice (CVS)
Great Value 100% Juice, Apple (Walmart)
Trader Joe's Organic Apple Juice
365 Everyday Value Organic 100% Concord Grape (Whole Foods)
Gerber White Grape Juice
Gold Emblem 100% Grape Juice (CVS)
R.W. Knudsen Organic Pear 100% Juice
365 Everyday Value Organic 100% Juice, Grape Cranberry (Whole Foods)
Great Value 100% Juice, Cranberry Grape (Walmart)
Juicy Juice 100% Juice, White Grape
Trader Joe's Organic Apple Grape Juice

"Our tests show that there's no reason why the FDA should not set aggressive targets for cadmium, inorganic arsenic, and lead in all fruit juices," Dickerson said.

Better juice alternatives based on their risk assesment (juice boxes, bottles, and pouches)

365 Everyday Value Organic Apple Juice, 100% Juice (Whole Foods)
Apple & Eve 100% Juice, Apple Juice
Bin Win 100% Juice, Apple Juice (Rite Aid)
Clover Valley 100% Apple Juice (Dollar General)
Gerber Apple 100% Juice
Market Pantry 100% Juice, Apple (Target)
Mott's 100% Juice, Apple Original
Mott's For Tots Apple
Nature's Own 100% Apple Juice
Old Orchard 100% Juice, Apple
Simply Balanced Organic Apple Juice, 100% Juice (Target)
Tree Top 100% Apple Juice
Goya Pear Nectar
Looza Pear Juice Drink
Ocean Spray Cran-Apple
Ocean Spray Cran-Grape
Capri Sun 100% Juice, Apple
Juicy Juice 100% Juice, Apple
Juicy Juice Organics 100% Juice, Apple
Good2Grow 100% Juice, Apple
Honest Kids Organic Juice Drink, Goodness Grapeness
Good2Grow 100% Juice, Fruit Punch
Capri Sun 100% Juice, Fruit Punch
Minute Maid 100% Juice, Apple White Grape