Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Food / Apple Cider Safety

October 8, 2015

Apple Cider Safety

Fall is here, the apple harvest is in full swing and that means it’s time for cider(PDF)Links to a PDF document.! I do enjoy apple cider, but am cautious because it has been involved in a number of foodborne illness outbreaks.Apple Cider

Apple cider is an un-filtered, un-sweetened beverage made by crushing fresh apples. It is essentially raw apple juice. While the fresh pressed cider is delicious, it also could be contaminated with bacteria. . When the apples are crushed, any bacteria –(including dangerous E. coli O157:H7) that might be on the apples is mixed in with the cider. If the juice isn’t pasteurized to destroy these bacteria, consumers could get sick.

Those who are at the highest risk of getting a foodborne illness from consuming unpasteurized cider are people with weaker or weakened immune systems. This includes infants and young children, the elderly, people with diabetes and other chronic or long-term illnesses and transplant recipients.

When shopping for cider (or making an impulse purchase at the farm market), always check the label to see if the cider has been pasteurized. Untreated or unpasteurized cider should be kept refrigerated and has to carry a warning label such as “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.” If you are not sure if the cider has been pasteurized or not, just ask! People with weakened immune system should always drink only pasteurized cider.

Some people do not like pasteurized of cider, claiming that pasteurization affect the flavor and taste of fresh cider. I’d rather be safe and get used to a slightly different taste!

Written by: Kate Shumaker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension Holmes County

Reviewed by: Sanja Ilic, Assistant Professor and Food Safety State Specialist, Department Human Sciences Human Nutrition, Ohio State University.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories: Food
Tags: apples, cider, fall, food safety, pasteurization, safety

Avatar for Kate Shumaker
Avatar for Kate Shumaker

About Kate Shumaker

Kate Shumaker, MS, RDN, LD, has enjoyed being an Extension Educator for over 15 years. All that time in the garden and kitchen with Mom and Grandma and the years in high school and college spent waitressing and cooking in restaurants have finally paid off! In addition to nutrition, Kate has developed specializations in food safety and food preservation. She is also a registered instructor and proctor of the ServSafe program with the National Restaurant Association.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

Diabetes Awareness month 2024 3

November Diabetes Awareness Month Webinars

2024 Food Preservation webinar series presented in Summer 2024

Kids Eat Free

Here Comes the Sun, Sun Meals, and Sun Bucks!

winter seed sowing timeline

Winter Sowing

How to Can Tomatoes in a Water Bath Canner

Food Videos

  • Freezing Green Beans
  • Ohio Days – My Plate My State Video
  • Water Bath Canning Of Salsa
  • Water Bath Canning of Sweet Pickles

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d