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Health Canada Reminds Canadians
of the Dangers of Unpasteurized Fruit Juice and
Cider
August
23, 2006
With the fall
harvest season approaching, Health Canada is advising
parents and caregivers that children should not
be served unpasteurized apple juice or other unpasteurized
products, such as unpasteurized cider, fruit juices
and raw milk. The elderly and people with weakened
immune systems are also advised against consuming
unpasteurized products.
Unpasteurized products have the
potential to be contaminated with harmful bacteria,
such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can make
vulnerable individuals such as children, especially
those under the age of six, very ill, and even
lead to death.
It must be noted that the vast majority
of juice sold in Canada is safe as it has been
pasteurized (treated with heat or ultraviolet
light) to kill harmful bacteria. This includes
most of the juice sold in refrigerated display
cases, and all concentrated juice and juice from
concentrate, as well as all shelf-stable product
packaged in cans, bottles and juice boxes, which
can be found unrefrigerated on grocery store shelves.
Unpasteurized juice products can
be found at some farmer's markets, orchards, and
grocery stores. While the risk of becoming seriously
ill by consuming unpasteurized juice products
is generally low for healthy adults, the possible
danger to vulnerable groups is much greater. This
becomes even more of a concern during the harvest
season because schools often take students to
orchards as part of class field trips.
Symptoms of a food-borne illness
such as E. coli 0157:H7 infection can include
stomach cramps, vomiting, fever and bloody diarrhea
and can occur within two to 10 days of consuming
contaminated food. People who experience any of
these symptoms should contact their doctors immediately.
For more information, visit:
Health Canada:
Health
Canada Information on Unpasteurized Juice and
Cider
It's
Your Health - Unpasteurized Juice and Cider
Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
Fact
Sheet on Unpasteurized Juice/Cider
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