It's the signal that fall has started: , starts appearing in every store, roadside stand, and orchard gift shop, redolent with the scent of fruit and cinnamon. Perfect for mulling, ideal for quenching your thirst while carving pumpkins, beautiful in this , and hey, if you want to add a little rum or bourbon, who are we to stop you? , however, you should be aware of the dangers of drinking unpasteurized apple cider. The vast majority of apple cider sold in the U.
S., particularly in supermarkets, is pasteurized to kill potentially harmful bacteria. However, cider sold in apple orchards, farmer's markets, or even some health or natural foods stores may not be pasteurized and could thus contain these bacteria.
The does require unpasteurized packaged apple cider to carry a warning label, which reads: "WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems." However, if the apple cider is being sold by the cup or glass, there is no warning label required, so it's a good idea to ask the seller before drinking it. Who is susceptible to the dangers of unpasteurized apple cider? While most people's immune systems will be able to fight off any potential bacteria in unpasteurized apple cider, there are some groups that are particularly vulnerable.
Children, the elderly, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems — people currently fighting ca.
