The imported orange juice contained trace amounts of carbendazim, used to combat a fungus that leaves black spots on tree leaves. The fungicide is not allowed in the U.S.
Nearly 14% of orange juice imported to the U.S. since early this month has been seized by the Food and Drug Administration because it contained trace amounts of a fungicide, carbendazim, according to the agency.
FDA officials said the juice was safe to drink but that carbendazim, used to combat a fungus that leaves black spots on tree leaves, was not allowed in the U.S.
“We don’t feel that this is a safety problem,” FDA spokeswoman Siobhan DeLancey said. “This is more of a regulatory issue.
“We don’t have any plans to call for a wholesale recall of orange juice.”
The FDA has also been testing domestically produced orange juice products. DeLancey said results of those tests would be released next week.
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