FDA Warning For Minnesotans About Popular Fall Beverages

We're in the middle of Fall in Minnesota, and with it, popular fall food and beverage staples have made their annual comeback.

Whether it's a warm pumpkin spice latte or a crisp apple cider, many Minnesotans have a favorite fall beverage that conjures those fall feels as the temperatures dip and the leaves fall off the trees.

As we continue through this harvest season, the FDA has an important message about one popular fall beverage that could potentially get people pretty sick.

What beverage are we talking about here?

For the pumpkin spice lovers out there, worry not - I'm not talking about your latte.

If you enjoy fresh apple juice or apple cider, the US Food & Drug Administration says you should consider your source to avoid getting sick.

According to the most recent FDA guidelines, updated earlier this year, the concern is that fresh-made cider or apple juice (or really any other fresh-made juice) that has not been treated or pasteurized has the potential to get some individuals pretty sick.

"Raw" beverages made without any sort of pasteurization or other treatment have the potential to carry with them harmful bacteria that can make people sick, pretty seriously in some cases.

The FDA notes that they have seen outbreaks of foodborne illness that were traced back to people drinking fruit or vegetable juices or ciders that were not properly treated.

While the FDA says most healthy adults might not get hit by the worst of symptoms if they get sick, even healthy people can experience vomiting, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms after consuming contaminated beverages or foods.

Young people, older people, and those with compromised immunity can see more severe illness that can lead to severe, or even life-threatening health issues.

How to avoid getting sick from juices

The FDA says you should check labels on packaging to see if the juice or cider has been pasteurized or treated. While properly treated beverages can be found in both non-refrigerated and refrigerated sections of grocery stores, non-pasteurized juices can be found in refrigerated sections of stores.

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Going beyond grocery stores to places like farmers' markets or other venues, you should ask the seller if it is not clearly labeled.

If you're making your own juice or cider, the FDA says you should make sure you properly and thoroughly wash your hands and your preparation surface, wash your produce thoroughly, and cut away damaged or bruised areas of the fruit or vegetable.