Food Safety Guidance for Raw Juice

Did you know that when fruits and vegetables are fresh-squeezed or used raw, bacteria from the produce can end up in your juice or cider?
Unless the juice from produce has been pasteurized, or otherwise treated to destroy any harmful bacteria, the juice could be contaminated.

Pasteurized Juice Warning Labels

Most of the juice sold in the U.S. is pasteurized (heat-treated) to kill harmful bacteria. Juice products may also be treated by non-heat processes for the same purpose.

However, some grocery stores, health food stores, cider mills, farmers’ markets, and juice bars sell packaged juice that was made on site that has not been pasteurized or otherwise treated to ensure its safety. These untreated products should be kept under refrigeration and are required to carry the following warning on the label:
Moreover, the FDA does not require warning labels for juice or cider that is sold by the glass – for example, at apple orchards, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, juice bars, and some restaurants.

FDA Guide: Talking About Juice Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has put together a guide to help consumers make informed choices about raw juice products. Fresh juices sold at produce stands or health food stores are not always as healthy and beneficial as they may seem.
Talking About Juice Safety (PDF) is meant to educate consumers on food safety issues related to buying, making and consuming raw juices. This FDA guide can help with deciphering when raw juice products are safe to consume or not.

Follow Juice Safety Tips to Prevent Illness

When Purchasing Juice

• Look for the warning label to avoid the purchase of untreated juices. You can find pasteurized or otherwise treated products in your grocers’ refrigerated sections, frozen food cases, or in non-refrigerated containers, such as juice boxes, bottles, or cans. Untreated juice is most likely to be sold in the refrigerated section of a grocery store.
• Ask if you are unsure if a juice product is treated, especially for juices sold in refrigerated cases in grocery or health food stores, cider mills, or farmers’ markets. Also, don’t hesitate to ask if the labeling is unclear or if the juice or cider is sold by the glass.

When Preparing Juice at Home

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after preparation.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables. Throw away any produce that looks rotten.
• Wash all produce thoroughly under running water before cutting or cooking, including produce grown at home or bought from a grocery store or farmers’ market. Washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash is not recommended.
• Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush. Even if you plan to peel the produce before juicing it, wash it first so dirt and bacteria are not transferred from the surface when peeling or cutting into it.
• After washing, dry produce with a clean cloth towel or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present on the surface.

Know the Symptoms of Foodborne Illness

Consuming dangerous foodborne bacteria will usually cause illness within 1 to 3 days of eating the contaminated food. However, sickness can also occur within 20 minutes or up to 6 weeks later. Although most people will recover from a foodborne illness within a short period of time, some can develop chronic, severe, or even life-threatening health problems.
Foodborne illness can sometimes be confused with other illnesses that have similar symptoms. The symptoms of foodborne illness can include:

• Vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
• Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body aches.

Take Action
If you think that you or a family member has a foodborne illness, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Also, report the suspected foodborne illness to FDA in either of these ways:

• Contact the Consumer Complaint Coordinator in your area. Locate a coordinator here: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators
• Contact MedWatch, FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
  By Phone: 1-800-FDA-1088
  Online: File a voluntary report at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch