Labels To Go on Fresh Apple Cider
Robert Belding
Specialist in Pomology
Rutgers Cooperative Extension

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued the final ruling on labeling
fresh fruit juices that will affect all producers of apple cider for the 1998. Beginning
September 8, 1998, all producers of fresh apple cider must either place a warning label on
each container of fresh juice, or display a sign at the point of sale with the following
warning:
WARNING:This product has not been pasteurized and, therefore, may contain harmful
bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly and persons with weakened
immune systems.

This ruling applies only to those producers of juice / cider, that has notbeen
specifically processed to prevent, reduce or eliminate the presence of pathogens. To meet
that definition means that the juice must either; receive a 5-log (100,000X) reduction in
bacteria, which generally can be met only by pasteurization or other sanitizing treatments
such as a recently developed ultra-violet light treatment. Or, another way to be excluded
from the labeling requirement is by reducing potential bacteria to a level equal or below the
criterion established by the final FDA rule for the application of HACCPprinciples for
cider production. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a flexible
program of food handling, which recognizes and controls hazards at critical points of
production. The final rule on the HACCP requirement is expected sometime next spring or
summer.

Label Placement or the use of Placards: The warning statement must be
prominently displayed on the containers' information panel or on the principle display panel
of the label, OR, signs or placards may be used at the point of sale until September 8,
1999.
The warning label must have the word WARNINGin bold capitalized letters with a type
size of no less than one-sixteenth of an inch in height. The warning label must be set of in
a 'hairline' box from the rest of the label info. Point of purchase signs can have a type size
of no smaller than one-quarter (1/4) inch in height.

For additional information on cider labeling, contact Ron Good, New Jersey
Department of Agriculture, at 609-984-2278 or Jim Cranney of the U.S. Apple Association
at 800 781-4443.