Consumer Reports' latest study on fruit juice has determined that many of the most popular fruit juices sold throughout the United States–including those marketed specificially to children–contain potentially dangerous levels of heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The research company tested 45 different storebought juices–including apple, grape, pear and juice blend varieties–and nearly half of all of the juices tested contained elevated levels of heavy metals.
More from MamásLatinas: Dangerous heavy metals have been found in nearly all commercial baby food, here's what you can do
Many parents offer their children fruit juices as an alternative to artificially flavored beverages and sodas, or even as a something of a nutritional supplement–believing that the juice will give kids a boost of vitamins and minerals–it's actually full of concentrated amounts of sugar and lacks the fiber of fresh fruit. In most cases, water or milk are much healthier alternatives in general.
But in light of Consumer Reports' most recent findings, it's especially important that parents fully educate themselves on the risk and benefits of giving their kids juice. Commercial juices have repeatedly been tested for these dangerous metals–CR's report was a follow-up to one it conducted back in 2011–and they repeatedly come back with concerning levels. Keep reading to find out why this information is worrisome, which juices are the worst offenders and what you can do about it.