Ogle County warns of health risks associated with drinking apple cider

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — Fall is in the air, and apple orchards are selling cinnamon donuts and apple cider. Health officials in Ogle County are warning that drinking unpasteurized apple cider can be harmful to some people.

According to the Ogle County Health Department, apple cider — which appears murky and golden colored — does not go through a pasteurization, a process involving the application of mild heat, to kill potentially harmful bacteria.

The health department said, “Highly susceptible populations are the most likely to be affected by unpasteurized apple cider. These groups include:

1. Infants and young children
2. Pregnant people
3. Older adults
4. People with weakened immune systems”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has received reports of outbreaks of food poisoning that have been traced to drinking fruit and vegetable juice and cider that has not been treated to kill harmful bacteria.

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