Are apple and other fruit juices safe to drink?

Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition & Dietetics

The FDA has been tracking the potential contamination in apples and other juices for years and concludes that there is no evidence of any public health risk from drinking apple juice.

However, on another note, children ages 2 to 18 years consume more than half of their fruit intake as juice. Unfortunately, 100% juice lacks the fiber in whole fruits and when consumed in excess, can displace other healthy beverages, such as fat-free and low fat milk. While 100% fruit juice can be part of a well-balanced healthy diet, the majority of American’s daily fruit intake, young and old, should be from whole fruit.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Apple Juice

Apple juice is a beverage made by pressing chopped apples to squeeze out their juice. This liquid is then filtered to remove sediment and pulp before being bottled. Most apple juice on the market has been pasteurized, a heating process that kills microorganisms. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires unpasteurized juice products to have labels stating that they may contain harmful bacteria. Outbreaks of serious illness and even deaths have been linked to drinking unpasteurized apple juice tainted with E. coli bacteria. Consuming unpasteurized apple juice may be particularly unsafe for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems. Apple juice is a good source of potassium, an essential mineral, and is often fortified with vitamin C. Apple juice is also naturally high in sugar. One cup (8 ounces) of unsweetened apple juice contains about 25 grams of sugar. That’s 6 teaspoons, or roughly the same amount of sugar as in a cup of root beer. A large apple contains a similar amount of sugar, but unlike apple juice, it also provides a healthy 5 grams of fiber. You may have heard that apple juice contains arsenic. This element occurs naturally in the environment, including the soil and water. Arsenic was also once used in agricultural pesticides. That’s why traces of arsenic can be found in apples and other fruits and vegetables. Consuming large amounts of arsenic has been linked to some forms of cancer and other health problems. The FDA has determined that apple juice sold in the United States contains very small amounts of arsenic and is safe to drink.

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