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Arsenic & Apple Juice Report Rattles Parents

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- First pediatricians warned us that too much apple juice with its acid and sugar content was putting our kids' teeth in danger of developing cavities.

Now a TV doctor says we should worry about arsenic in their juice boxes! What's a mother to do?

"A" is for "apple" - the juice that kids love. But a promo for a recent "Dr. Oz" episode was enough to frighten most parents. It says in part, "It's a brand new 'Dr. Oz.' Arsenic in apple juice? Are the nation's kids in danger?"

What the heck is going on?

"Never rely on one piece of information," Dr. Mark Diamond, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital South, said.

He also believes that the Dr. Oz study fails to distinguish between the two forms of arsenic – organic, which is natural and probably doesn't hurt anything, and inorganic which is dangerous.

"I think Dr. Oz is at fault here for taking one small piece of information which isn't terribly accurate," Dr. Diamond said.

Even before the Oz show aired, the Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to producers warning that making a claim like that would be "irresponsible" and "misleading."

The FDA released this statement: "There is no evidence of any public health risk from drinking these juices and the FDA has been testing them for years."

"And until we have more information that supports Dr. Oz, I'm going to counsel parents to continue what they're doing and not truly worry about it," Dr. Diamond said.

He adds that if you're still concerned that the apples grown for your juice might have had pesticides containing arsenic, the best idea is to buy organic.

RELATED LINKS
The Dr. Oz Show: Arsenic In Apple Juice
FDA: Apple Juice Is Safe To Drink

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