Can you drink cold-pressed juice while pregnant?
Check firstOnly if it is pasteurized or HPP-treated. Raw, unpasteurized cold-pressed juice can carry E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria, which is why the FDA tells pregnant women to skip it.
Why
Cold-pressed is a pressing method, not a safety step, so the juice inside can still carry whatever bacteria were on the fruit skin. The FDA warns that unpasteurized juice has caused outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Listeria, and lists pregnant women among the groups who should drink only juice that has been pasteurized or treated with high pressure processing. Untreated juice sold in US stores must carry a warning label, but juice squeezed to order at a juice bar, farmers market or restaurant is exempt from that label, which is where most people get caught out. If the bottle says pasteurized or HPP, or the juice is from concentrate, it is fine to drink freely.
Safer alternatives
- HPP cold-pressed bottles such as Suja or Evolution Fresh
- Pasteurized Tropicana or Simply orange juice
- Juice you press at home from washed, scrubbed fruit and drink immediately
- A smoothie blended from frozen fruit and pasteurized milk or yogurt
- Whole oranges and berries, which keep the fiber the juice removes
Sources
- FDA https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/what-you-need-know-about-juice-safety
- FDA https://www.fda.gov/food/people-risk-foodborne-illness/fruits-veggies-and-juices-food-safety-moms-be
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Last reviewed by the pregAI editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
Is HPP juice the same as pasteurized?
High pressure processing uses cold pressure rather than heat, but the FDA accepts it as a treatment that reduces harmful bacteria in juice. Labels usually say "high pressure processed" or "HPP", and that juice is fine during pregnancy.
Can I drink fresh juice from a juice bar?
Juice squeezed in front of you is unpasteurized, so the FDA advice is to avoid it while pregnant. Ask whether they sell any bottled pasteurized or HPP options instead, or order a smoothie made with pasteurized dairy.
Is a juice cleanse safe during pregnancy?
Juice cleanses are a poor fit for pregnancy even when the juice is pasteurized, because they cut calories, protein and fiber at a time when you need all three. If you like juice, drink it alongside meals rather than instead of them.
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