KDHE Home - News 2001 - New Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2001
Contact: Mike Heideman, 785-296-5795
With the holidays approaching, many families will plan to enjoy traditional beverages such as ciders and other juices. These beverages can be very nutritious, but consuming unpasteurized or untreated ciders or juices may pose a serious health risk for some people.
Recent outbreaks of foodborne illness around the country involving young children have been traced to the drinking of unpasteurized or untreated juices. When fruits and vegetables are fresh-squeezed, harmful bacteria from the outside of the produce can become part of the finished product. While most people's immune systems can usually fight off the effects of foodborne illness, children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems risk serious illness or even death if they drink juice or cider contaminated with harmful bacteria.
While only about two percent of all fruit and vegetable juices sold in supermarkets are not pasteurized or otherwise treated, KDHE advises consumers to always "read the label." Untreated juices carry the following label:
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.
While consuming dangerous foodborne bacteria usually causes illness within one to three days, sickness can occur within 20 minutes or up to six weeks later. In addition, sometimes foodborne illness is confused with other types of illness. Symptoms of foodborne illness usually include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain; or flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and body ache.
If foodborne illness symptoms occur, it's best to see a doctor.