Consumers should not worry just yet about whether their orange juice is safe.
Though the Federal Drug Administration is conducting tests of all orange juice and orange juice concentrates entering the U.S., the agency has not issued any recalls. On Friday, three shipments confirmed negative for the fungicide carbendazim were released. The testing is ongoing and the FDA plans to issue weekly updates. Here are answers to common questions:
Why is orange juice being tested?
In December, Atlanta based Coca-Cola detected the fungicide carbendazim in orange juice and orange juice concentrates of its own and competitors' brands. Because carbendazim is not approved for use in the U.S., officials at Coca-Cola -- which makes Minute-Maid, Simply Orange and Odwalla brands -- alerted the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA launched an investigation.
What is carbendazim? Is it harmful?
Carbendazim is a fungicide used in a variety of crops. It is approved for use in several countries including Brazil, a leading exporter of frozen concentrate orange juice, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. In the U.S., carbendazim is an unlawful pesticide chemical residue under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, said a spokesperson for the FDA.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not approved carbendazim for use as a fungicide on citrus nor has it established an acceptable residue level for citrus, said an EPA spokesperson. Recent risk assessment tests by the EPA found levels of carbendazim under 80 parts per billion do not pose a health risk, the spokesperson said. The highest level found as of Friday afternoon was 35 parts per billion, the spokesperson said, a level that is 1,000 to 3,000 times below the level that could pose a health risk. The FDA has said it would return any shipments at or above a level of 10 parts per billion.
Has there been a recall?
The FDA has not issued a recall of any orange juice already on the market.
What happens if orange juice shipments test positive for high levels of carbendazim?
"If the FDA identifies orange juice with carbendazim at levels that present a public health risk, we will alert the public and take the necessary action to ensure the product is removed from the market," said an FDA spokesperson.
Can I get juice that doesn't contain any carbendazim?
Juice labeled 100 percent Florida orange juice should not contain the fungicide. Though carbendazim was approved for use in Florida between 2002 and 2008, it was removed from the market when other alternatives became available, said an EPA spokesperson.
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