An Examination of Arsenic Content in American and European Hard Ciders


Introduction

Hard cider or alcoholic cider is an alcohol-fermented beverage produced primarily from apples. Hard ciders have a long history around the world but have only become readily available in the United States over the past two decades. Over the last several years, several studies have been conducted showing the presence of arsenic in apple juices and wine.

The historical and continued use of arsenic based pesticides around the world and the exposure of crops to arsenic from potentially arsenic laden fertilizers can expose agricultural products to arsenic contamination. Arsenic based pesticides, particularly lead arsenic, were in widespread and common use in the United States up until the 1970’s until their final ban in 1988. Despite arsenic residue being recognized as a potential problem from the turn of the 20th century, lead arsenate was one of the most widely used pesticides in the nation and was applied to millions of acres of crops through the 1940’s when it was replaced by DDT.