What do consumers need to know about juice safety?
When fruits and vegetables are made into fresh-squeezed juice, harmful bacteria that may be present can become part of the finished product. Most juice in the United States, 98 percent, is pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. The remaining two percent of juice sold is unpasteurized. Unpasteurized juice may contain harmful bacteria that make some people sick. To help consumers identify unpasteurized juice and cider, the Food and Drug Administration is requiring a warning on these products. Why is “WARNING” information needed now? Recent serious outbreaks of foodborne illness have been traced to the drinking of unpasteurized juices. The warning information is to help consumers decide whether to buy unpasteurized juice. Unpasteurized Juice is normally found in the refrigerated sections of grocery or health food stores or at cider mills or farm markets. Unpasteurized juice should have warning information on the label or on a nearby sign.
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