FDA halts orange juice imports

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WPRI) - The Food and Drug Administration has temporarily halted imports of orange juice and is stepping up testing of the products after some are found to have low levels of fungicide, a form of pesticide.

FDA officials say they're not concerned about the safety of the juice but are stepping up testing to ensure contamination is not a problem.

The moves were made after an unnamed juice company contacted the FDA in late December saying it had detected low levels of the fungicide carbendazim in the company's own orange juice and also in it's competitors' juice.

Some manufacturers use imported oranges for their orange juice along with domestic oranges.

Fungicides are pesticides that are used to control fungi or fungai spores in agriculture.

The fungicides in question popped up on oranges imported from Brazil.

The price of orange juice has been rising due to a cold weather in Florida that has affected crops.

Halted imports and new testing is expected to drive the price up more at markets.