WHAT CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JUICE SAFETY

September 1998

U. S. Food and Drug Administration

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Food Safety Staff

KNOW THE FACTS

Juices may often look alike, but there is a difference between

pasteurized and unpasteurized juice. When fruits and vegetables

are made into fresh-squeezed juice, harmful bacteria that may be

present can become part of the finished product. Most juice in the

United States, 98 percent, is pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria.

The remaining two percent of juice sold is unpasteurized.

Unpasteurized juice may contain harmful bacteria that make some

people sick. To help consumers identify unpasteurized juice and

cider, the Food and Drug Administration is requiring a warning on

these products.

KNOW THE ANSWERS

Why is "WARNING" information needed now?

Recent serious outbreaks of foodborne illness have been traced to

the drinking of unpasteurized juices. The warning information is to

help consumers decide whether to buy unpasteurized juice.

Why are some people more likely to get sick from drinking

unpasteurized juice?

Most people's immune systems can usually fight off the effects of

foodborne illness. Children, the elderly, and people who have

significant health problems, or those whose immune systems are

weakened, risk serious illness or even death if they drink or cider

contaminated with harmful bacteria.

What can I do if I can't tell if the juice or cider I've purchased is

pasteurized?

If you or someone in your family is one of the high-risk groups and

you cannot determine if a juice product has been processed to

destroy harmful bacteria, either don't use the product or bring it to a

boil to kill any possible harmful bacteria.