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Topics: Health, Weather, Food and Drink
Kya Buller
Experts have issued a stark warning to those who plan to consume apple cider over the autumn months.
Due to it's warming qualities, many people are drawn to the beverage as the days and nights get colder.
However, a warning regarding unpasteurised apple cider has been issued by the Ogle County Health Department in Illinois, US.
In a social media post, the government organisation warned: "Apple Cider is a beverage made from fresh apples. It is typically a bit murky and golden-coloured because its unfiltered and unpasteurised.
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"Most apple orchards don’t take the time to pasteurise because it is not required.
Apple cider that has NOT been pasteurised can contain harmful bacteria that can make people sick.
"What groups are most affected by unpasteurised apple cider? Glad you asked.
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Highly susceptible populations are the most likely to be affected by unpasteurised apple cider.
"These groups include:
"1. Infants and young children
"2. Pregnant people
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"3. Older adults
"4. People with weakened immune systems."
The Ogle County Health Department concluded: "Protect vulnerable people who have an increased risk for food borne illness by checking labels for pasteurisation. It’s required to disclaim if the product has been heat treated or not."
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds: "The FDA has received in the past, reports of outbreaks of food borne illness, often called 'food poisoning,' that have been traced to drinking fruit and vegetable juice and cider that has not been treated to kill harmful bacteria.
"While most people’s immune systems can usually fight off the effects of food borne illness, children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or diabetes) risk serious illnesses or even death from drinking untreated juices."
As for the symptoms to look out for?
The FDA advises: "Consuming dangerous food borne bacteria will usually cause illness within one to three days of eating the contaminated food. However, sickness can also occur within 20 minutes or up to six weeks later.
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"Although most people will recover from a food borne illness within a short period of time, some can develop chronic, severe, or even life-threatening health problems.
"Food borne illness can sometimes be confused with other illnesses that have similar symptoms. The symptoms of food borne illness can include:
"Vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain
"Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body ache."