Why you should be careful about drinking apple cider in the fall

Some people should take a close look at their cider before purchasing it in the fall.

Warnings are issued by health officials and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration about unpasteurized juices (meaning they are not heat-treated to kill bacteria), which could include some apple ciders.

“Unless the product or juice has been pasteurized or otherwise treated to kill harmful bacteria, the juice could be contaminated,” the FDA said, noting that these products contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

People who are particularly at risk, such as young children, pregnant women, older adults and those with weakened immune systems, are advised to avoid unpasteurized foods such as apple cider.

These untreated juices could contain salmonella, e.g. coli and cryptosporidia parasites. The illness typically occurs within one to three days of eating contaminated food.

Some health authorities even warn against cider and other products that may be unpasteurized. An alert from the Ogle County Health Department in Illinois on Facebook read: “[Apple cider] is usually slightly cloudy and golden in color because it is unfiltered and unpasteurized.

They added, “Most apple orchards don't take the time to pasteurize because it's not necessary.”

However, Today reports that most ciders sold in grocery stores in the United States are pasteurized.

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When purchasing apple cider, consumers should look for this warning on labels: “This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.”

It is important to note that the FDA does not require this disclaimer to appear on every unpasteurized juice sold by the glass, such as at farmers markets, restaurants, and apple orchards. In these cases, customers should ask whether the cider is pasteurized.

The FDA also offers guidelines for those who want to make their cider at home, including instructions on how to properly wash and cut apples.