Health officials are urging consumers to exercise caution before consuming apple cider

Apple cider has become synonymous with the start of fall, but health officials are warning consumers that drinking the cozy drink is not without risk.

Unpasteurized apple cider can cause serious illness or even death.

Here's what you should know if apple picking is in your weekend plans.

Ready for fall? These apple orchards are open for the season 🍎

Is apple cider dangerous?

It really depends on the cider, whether it has been pasteurized or not, and who is drinking it.

The Ogle County Health Department in Illinois has issued a seasonal health alert to warn people about the dangers of unpasteurized apple cider, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says can cause “serious illness or even death” if consumed can.

“Apple cider is a drink made from fresh apples. It is usually somewhat cloudy and golden in color because it is unfiltered and unpasteurized,” the department said in a Facebook post. “Most apple orchards don’t take the time to pasteurize because it’s not necessary.”

What does pasteurized mean?

Any juice or cider that is not pasteurized or “heat treated” may contain harmful bacteria from the freshly squeezed or raw fruits and vegetables it is made from, according to the FDA. These bacteria could lead to foodborne illness.

Who is at risk from consuming unpasteurized cider?

Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the effects of food poisoning. These groups of people risk “serious illness or even death from consuming untreated juice,” according to the FDA.

Most, but not all, juices sold are pasteurized, the FDA says

The FDA has received reports of foodborne illness outbreaks associated with consumption of fruit and vegetable juices and apple cider, but notes that “most juice sold in the United States is pasteurized or does not undergo heat-related processes to kill harmful substances.” “Bacteria.”

All “unprocessed” juice products should be refrigerated and have a warning label that states: “WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.“

However, the FDA does not require warning labels for juice or cider sold “by the glass,” which are typically found in apple orchards, farmers markets, roadside stands, juice bars and some restaurants.

The FDA recommends consumers planning to purchase juice or cider at grocery stores, cider mills or farmers markets this fall to look for the warning label and “ask if you are unsure.”

Anyone who believes they have consumed contaminated juice or cider can report it here.

This article originally appeared on the Indianapolis Star: Cider warning: Those who drink it unpasteurized are at greatest risk