What's In Your Breakfast Juice? The Hidden Dangers Of Contaminated Orange Juice

A Los Angeles injury lawyer explains that at present there is an investigation going on that is being carried out by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) that is currently looking into orange juice and it's links with the fungicide Carbendazim. It is believed that levels of the fungicide are present in cartons of orange juice shipped from Brazil.

So what exactly is Carbendazim and why is it used?

As already mentioned Carbendazim is a fungicide that is used to combat a mould that grows specifically on orange trees known as black spot. It is perfectly legal in many countries including Canada, Japan, Brazil and most of Europe. However the problem is that in the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not authorised the use of the product and it is therefore considered an unlawful pesticide. Before everyone starts throwing out perfectly good OJ, it is worth pointing out that according to the EPA, Carbendazim levels under 80 parts per billion are considered safe. At present the FDA are testing all shipments from Brazil and so far 31 shipments have been retained for testing, 28 of which are still under analysis. Just to make doubly sure they are seizing any cartons that contain 10ppb or more. Therefore even if your OJ does contain the fungicide it should still be safe to drink.

There are some tests that have been carried out that suggest that over exposure to Carbendazim can lead to infertility in males. If you have suffered infertility and believe that it has a link with the fungicide, then you need to speak to an injury lawyer Los Angeles who can explain your rights.

So how did it come to light?

In essence it all started with Coca Cola. At the back end of last year, they did some routine testing on their own brands of OJ, (Coca Cola makes Minute Maid, Simply Orange and Odwalla) plus that of their competitors. They found levels of Carbendazim somewhere between 10 and 35 parts per billion. As already stated this is still not enough to cause any major harm, but nevertheless they informed the FDA.

How much OJ comes from Brazil?

Around 75% of all OJ consumed in the US is grown in the US and the rest is imported. In 2010 alone Brazil shipped more than 171 million gallons to America that accounted for over 50% of the country's entire shipment. US companies import OJ from other countries rather than rely totally on domestic crops because of the possibility of bad weather conditions in Florida and freezing conditions elsewhere which otherwise might have a negative impact on all orange crops.

Is the OJ found in my fridge safe?

A Los Angeles injury lawyer explains that in reality the answer is yes, and the FDA have stated that there is no need for alarm, and a total OJ recall is not expected any time soon.

Some other companies such as Tropicana, which is owned by Pepsi Cola currently contains orange juice from the US and indeed Brazil, However it is in the process of making the switch to 100% American (Florida) supplied oranges only.

This increased focus on Carbendazim in orange juice came after LA injury attorneys found federal scrutiny on levels of arsenic contained in apple juice. Although the FDA state that the levels found were indeed low and as a result is deemed safe to drink, it is obviously quite an alarming find and the FDA have promised to step up testing. In the meantime the FDA have come under attack from consumer groups who have stated that any level of arsenic found is simply not safe and puts consumers at risk. The same could be said for fungicide levels in orange juice so it really is a case of watch this space!

A Los Angeles injury attorney is on hand if you feel that you or a family member have suffered because of harmful substances contained within orange and apple juice. They will have a good understanding of the case and by using a free no obligation consultation, can explain your rights.