This warning from an Illinois county is all the more urgent considering the season we are in. It involves apple cider and a variation that can kill in some cases.
I came across this alarming story from USA Today which was based off of a Facebook status update from the Ogle County Health Department in Illinois. They say to beware of apple cider that is unpasteurized.
If you’re like me, you’re thinking what possible harm could apple cider really do to me? If you’re a healthy person, it might just make you sick, but if you’re among the very old or very young and/or have a compromised immune system, it can be a deadly illness.
It’s not just Ogle County, Illinois issuing this warning as the Food and Drug Administration has an alert about the dangers of juice that have not been through the process of pasteurization. Herein lies the problem. There is no law that requires anyone providing unpasteurized juice to put a warning label on the container if it’s sold by the glass. That means if you’re a consumer like me, then you will need to be alert about what type of apple cider you’re getting and know the risk if it has not been through the pasteurization process. They say this apple cider can come from “apple orchards, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, juice bars, and some restaurants”.
Apple cider is very much in season right now, so watch out and know what type you’re getting to help avoid potentially serious sickness.
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