Assessment of Selected Metal Concentrations in Shelf-stable Commercial Apple Juices and Fresh Apple Ciders in Michigan

Introduction: Concern about the presence fo arsenic and other metals in fruit juices has been heightened due to their potential toxicity. Prior surveys of metal concentrations in apple juices have not considered their points of origin (i.e., domestic versus foreign). Therefore, it is unclear if differences exist between shelf stable apple juices (which, in the United States, would largely be produced using imported apple juice concentrate) and fresh juices produced from domestic apples.

Purpose: This research was conducted to assess the concentrations of different metals, particularly arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn), in shelf-stable apple juices and fresh apple ciders obtained at retail establishments and cider mills throughout Michigan.

Methods: Samples of shelf-stable apple juice and fresh apple cider, obtained in the fall of 2015 and 2016, were analyzed for metal concentrations by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Results: Averaged across both years, As was detected in quantifiable concentrations (> one µg/liter) in 78% of juice samples, but only 16% of cider samples. Among those samples containing quantifiable As and Pb, the total As and Pb concentrations in apple juice and cider were similar. Cu and Mn was detected in all samples, and their mean concentrations did not differ in apple juice and cider tested in 2016. Al and Cr levels were not significantly different among juice categories, but the percentage of samples containing these metals was higher in apple juices.

Significance: The As and Pb concentrations detected in this study were consistently lower than current advisory levels indicated by the FDA. Fresh apple ciders manufactured using local apples had significantly lower percentages of samples that contained selected metals compared to shelf-stable apple juices, which are largely manufactured using imported juice concentrate.