News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

With the arrival of apple season in the fall, it’s important to remember that unpasteurized apple juice and cider can sometimes be infected with harmful bacteria, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall and the BC Centre for Disease Control, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, are reminding the public. 

“The BCCDC recommends that unpasteurized apple juice and cider be boiled for at least a minute before consuming,” says Lynn Wilcott, Acting Program Director of Food Protection Services. ”Medical health officers from across the country have stated that only pasteurization can guarantee that apple juice and cider are free of pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella.” 

Unpasteurized apple juice and cider are commonly available for sale at the farm gate at this time of year. While the vast majority of apple juice and cider sold in BC is not dangerous, the safety of unpasteurized products cannot be guaranteed.

Both retailers and consumers should check with the producer or vendor before buying apple juice or cider to determine if it has been pasteurized. If this information is not on the label, consumers can ask their retailer or producer, or phone the number on the product label. In the absence of information, people should consider the possible risks before consuming the product. 

Symptoms of infection with E. coli or Salmonella can include stomach cramps, vomiting, fever and bloody diarrhea. Up to eight per cent of people, and especially young children under the age of five, infected with E. coli  can have severe kidney damage. This can be fatal or require the person to be on kidney dialysis for the rest of their lives while they wait for a kidney transplant. 

People in vulnerable groups, including young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems should not drink unpasteurized apple juice or cider. If you believe that you have become ill as a result of drinking unpasteurized apple juice or cider, see a doctor immediately and notify our local Health Authority. Symptoms can occur within two to ten days of consuming the contaminated products. 

Freezing or refrigeration will not make unpasteurized apple juice or cider safe. Ensure freshness and quality by refrigerating apple juice and cider and respecting their best-before dates. 

For more information on the health risks of unpasteurized fruit juices and ciders, please visit HealthLink BC at http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile72.stm.

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