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Fact Sheets > Pasteurized Juice
Pasteurized Juice
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Pasteurized juice is safest because it has been heated hot
enough and long enough to kill bacteria.
Pasteurization is the process of heating liquid or
semi-liquid foods to a particular temperature for a
designated period sufficient to destroy certain bacteria. |
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Common Questions:
Pasteurized vs. unpasteurized
Pasteurization is the process of heating liquid or
semi-liquid foods to a particular temperature for a
designated period sufficient to destroy certain bacteria.
Unpasteurized juice (often called “fresh juice”) has not
been through this process. Published reports indicate that
over 95% of the juice consumed by Americans each year is
pasteurized. However, because pasteurized and unpasteurized
juice may look and taste the same, you may not know if the
juice you buy and serve is pasteurized or not.
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Risks associated with unpasteurized juice
Recent foodborne illness outbreaks associated with unpasteurized apple and orange juices have sickened hundreds, even proving fatal for a few. While all people are at
risk for foodborne illness, some groups of individuals are
at greater risk for developing more severe symptoms.
These "high-risk groups" include: young children, senior
citizens, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune
systems.
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Common symptoms of food
poisoning
Symptoms commonly associated with food poisoning are
diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting, fever, and
headache.
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How does the juice become
contaminated?
Bacteria, such as E. coli O157:H7, live in the intestines
of animals. Fruit juice/cider may become contaminated when
the raw fruit used to prepare the juice/cider has fallen to
the ground and comes into contact with these bacteria from
animal droppings. Contamination can also occur when the
water used in the orchard or during processing contains
harmful bacteria, from improper food handling practices,
or from soiled equipment.
Foodborne illness-causing bacteria can survive in the
final product if it’s not pasteurized. Freezing will not
destroy the harmful bacteria.
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Do restaurants and stores sell only
pasteurized juice?
No. They may still serve unpasteurized juice; however, if
they do, new Colorado state regulations require that they
notify consumers. The public has the right to choose
alternatives.
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How do you know if the juice you
serve is safe?
No food is 100% safe; however, pasteurized juices are the
safest available, because the pasteurization process
eliminates bacterial contamination. Again, it is not always
obvious by looking at a container whether the juice has been
pasteurized or not.
Current federal regulations require unpasteurized juice
sold at retail markets to display a warning label; however,
unpasteurized juices distributed to facilities and
institutions may not be labeled or otherwise identified.
Also, many pasteurized juices are not labeled. If the juice
you receive or purchase is not labeled, do not assume it is
pasteurized. To be sure, ask your supplier or the juice
manufacturer.
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