What Could Go Wrong If You Drink Apple Cider This Fall

As the weather gets cooler and the leaves turn bright red and gold, fall brings many delicious foods, smells, and customs. While these are great fall treats, apple cider is the clear winner.

Nothing beats a glass of fresh apple cider, whether drinking it by the campfire while it’s warm or after a day of apple picking when it’s cold. But before you take that first sip, you should know that unpasteurized cider can harm your health.

How Is Unpasteurized Cider Made?

Many people like to drink apple cider from the farm because it tastes rich and natural. However, cider that hasn’t been pasteurized can be very bad for your health because it might contain dangerous germs.

Unpasteurized cider is raw and has not been cleaned, so it has all its natural ingredients, including any harmful pathogens. Pasteurized cider has been heated to kill any harmful germs.

Unpasteurized Cider Can Be Bad for Your Health

Health professionals, including those at the Ogle County Health Department, say that drinking apple cider that hasn’t been sterilized can make people very sick, especially those who are already weak. Among those at a higher risk are:

Babies and little kids: Their immune systems are still growing, which makes them more likely to get sick.
Pregnant women: They have special health risks, and getting an illness during pregnancy can be very bad for both the mother and the baby.
Older Adults: Our immune systems weaken with age, which makes us more likely to get sick from food.
People with weakened immune systems: People whose immune systems are weaker because of a long-term illness, medicines, or other things are more likely to get sick.

Because of these risks, it’s important to be careful when picking out your apple cider this fall.

How to Choose Safe Apple Cider

Knowing if apple cider has been sterilized before buying it is important. No law requires fresh, unpackaged goods, so most apple farms don’t pasteurize their juice.

However, cider that comes in a package must have a sticker that says it hasn’t been handled to make it safe. It’s a good idea to ask if the cider you’re drinking at an orchard or farmers’ market has been pasteurized since sales by the glass don’t have to have warning signs.

The Importance of Pasteurization

Pasteurization is an important process that kills germs by cooking liquids to a certain temperature. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stressed how important this method is for ensuring the safety of drinks and ciders.

Over the years, many cases of foodborne illnesses have been linked to unwashed juices, which is why the FDA put out rules on how to make juice safe.

Tips for Safely Enjoying Apple Cider

Check for Warning Labels: Always look for warning labels on cider you buy at farms, farmers markets, or roadside stands. These signs tell you if the food has been prepared.

Check out reputable sources: If you buy cider in a store, it’s probably already been processed. Look for writing on the bottle that says this is true. Choose ciders that don’t need to be kept in the fridge and can be kept on the shelf. These have usually been cleaned to make them safe.
Safety for Homemade Cider: There are a few things you can do to ensure the safety of your apple cider when you make it at home.
Clean Your Fruits: Before you juice your apples, wash and dry them well. A produce brush like the OXO Good Grips vegetable brush can clean the fruit’s surface of dirt or germs.
Home pasteurization: You might want to pasteurize the cider you make at home. The FDA says that to get rid of dangerous germs, the juice should be heated to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s easy to monitor the temperature with a digital thermometer like the ThermoPro digital candy thermometer.

Safe Ways to Drink Cider This Fall

If you are in any of the risk groups, it is best to avoid unpasteurized apple cider. Instead, eat choices that are commercially made and pasteurized, which are safer.

Fall and Winter Cider Recipes to Try

If you love the taste of fresh cider but want to drink it carefully, here are some tasty and safe alternatives:

Warm Spiced Cider: For a cozy, warm drink that’s great for cold nights, simmer pasteurized apple cider with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange slices.
Cocktails with Apple Cider: Mix pasteurized apple cider with your favorite booze for a holiday drink. Spiced bourbon or rum can make things more fun!
Cider Spritzers: For a tasty, non-alcoholic spritzer, mix fermented cider with sparkling water and lemon juice.

Conclusion

While you enjoy the beauty of fall and its delicious tastes, remember to put safety first when you drink apple cider. If you know about the possible risks of drinking unpasteurized cider, you can make healthy decisions and ensure you and your family enjoy this holiday treat to the fullest.

You can enjoy falling without worrying about your health if you follow the FDA’s rules and ensure that the food has been pasteurized. You can safely enjoy an apple cider, so go ahead and enjoy the season’s tastes!