Parker Waichman LLP

FDA Detains More Orange Juice Imports

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has detained more orange juice imports being shipped in from Brazil and Canada to the United States because of concerns they may be tainted with an unapproved fungicide. As we’ve mentioned, PepsiCo recently announced that an unapproved fungicide was detected in its Tropicana orange juice, adding that the […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has detained more orange juice imports being shipped in from Brazil and Canada to the United States because of concerns they may be tainted with an unapproved fungicide.

As we’ve mentioned, PepsiCo recently announced that an unapproved fungicide was detected in its Tropicana orange juice, adding that the levels were below federal safety concerns. The fungicide scare followed a discovery by Coca-Cola Co., which makes Minute Maid orange juice, that its juice shipments from Brazil also contained carbendazim. Coca-Cola advised the FDA about a potential problem in the industry when it detected low levels of carbendazim in its own and a competitors’ juice.

The FDA previously announced that an orange juice recall was not needed following its initial testing that found amounts of the banned fungicide, carbendazim, in Brazilian oranges, was not sufficient to warrant a recall. The agency began testing orange juice entering the United States on January 4.

U.S. health regulators recently allowed the first shipments of imported orange juice to enter the country since the January 4 testing. Now, said Fox News, three shipments from Brazil and six from Canada contained carbendazim and were detained. The FDA said it has no plans to change the way in which it tests for carbendazim.

The FDA said that the fungicide will continue to remain illegal in citrus at any level in the U.S., although industry groups in the U.S. and Brazil have asked the regulator to consider its position on the fungicide which is used there to fight blight blossom and black spot, a mold that plagues orange trees, said Fox News. Fungicides control fungi or fungal spores in agriculture.

The U.S. Juice Products Association and Brazil’s CitrusBR have asked the agency to increase the allowable about of carbendazim it will allow into U.S. by raising the legal limit for frozen concentrated juice. “If this were considered, the whole problem would have been already resolved,” said CitrusBR’s Christian Lohbauer, wrote Fox News.

The U.S. has not created a maximum residue level for the fungicide in oranges; however, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 80 parts per billion (ppb) to be a health risk. Since the fungicide is not approved for use in the U.S. on citrus, any detected amount in citrus products is considered illegal.

The groups are asking the FDA to differentiate between ready-to-drink and frozen concentrate, saying that because concentrate is diluted before drinking, the level could be close to 60 ppb, while not exceeding the FDA’s legal limit for drinkable juice, said Fox News. The FDA maintained that imports with detectable levels of fungicide—anything above 10 ppb—are not allowed into the U.S.

According to Lohbauer, frozen juice exceeds the limit because of its concentrated form. “The agency is using this lower maximum level … because the letter of the law requires the agency to do so,” the U.S. Juice Products Association said in a statement. An increase would be logical to protect consumers, it added, said Fox News.

“We’ve stated before that we would test imports on an ‘as is’ basis, and that’s still our policy,” FDA spokeswoman Siobhan DeLancey told Fox News.

Carbendazim has been linked to liver tumors in animals.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Positive: Professionalism , Quality , Responsiveness , Value They settled a personal injury case for me very much to my satisfaction. I really want to thank my paralegal, Kathy Snedecor, for all her assistance. She was the one who stayed on top of things and tirelessly helped me through this tumultuous process.
Frank Borgi
3 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
As a survivor of the 9/11 disaster zone, I really appreciate the direction, support, and friendliness of working with Parker Waichman in submitting my VCF claim. It would not have been possible without their dedicated assistance (and sometimes hand holding!) I would like to give a special shout out to Tina who was a joy to work with. She makes you feel that YOUR claim is the only one she is working on and YOUR claim is THE most important one on her desk. I recommend Parker Waichman to my former colleagues and friends who need help organizing their files for VCF fund consideration.
Sarah Awan Johnson
3 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Roy Cronin is both handsome and charming. He is the greatest computer guy this side of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Roy Cronin
5 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038