Apple cider is everyone’s favorite drink during the much-awaited fall season. However, local health officials in US states are warning people about the dangers of consuming unpasteurized apple cider because it can be infected with harmful bacteria – which causes serious illness. According to the Ogle County Health Department, you should avoid drinking unpasteurized apple cider because it carries a higher risk of potential foodborne illness – causing vomiting, nausea and severe diarrhea.

Illinois and Georgia health departments issue warnings

Officials say that because it is made from fresh apples, the apple cider – a golden-colored liquid, is mostly unfiltered and unpasteurized because most local producers do not take the time to pasteurize it because it is not required. “Apple cider that has not been pasteurized may contain harmful bacteria that can make people sick,” the county health department posted on social media websites.

In neighboring Georgia, the Fulton County Health Department shared a similar message. “Be sure to check labels this fall – it is required to reject whether the product has been heat-treated or not,” the department wrote, CBS News reports.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should boil it for at least one minute before consuming it.

Untreated juices and ciders are available in abundance in the US

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it oversees that most juices sold nationwide be pasteurized or heat-treated to ensure all harmful bacteria are killed. However, some items available in grocery stores, health food stores, cider mills, farmers markets and juice bars remain unprocessed and pose a health hazard.

In 2015, unpasteurized apple cider made on a private dairy farm for a fall festival in Illinois was blamed for an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, leaving more than 100 people sick from food poisoning. According to local news reports, most of those affected complained of bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Several people also claimed to be “violently ill” after drinking several samples of the cider and bringing a container home with them.

How do bacteria affect unpasteurized apple cider?,

Experts say unpasteurized cider contains Cryptosporidium – a tiny parasite that causes watery diarrhea. This parasite can live on water, food, soil or surfaces contaminated with infected feces.

Doctors say people most at risk for developing bacterial illnesses include children, seniors over the age of 65, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

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