Can you drink unpasteurized apple cider while pregnant?
Not advisedNo, avoid unpasteurized apple cider. Untreated juice can carry E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Cryptosporidium, and pregnancy makes those infections considerably harder on you.
Why
Cider pressed from windfall apples picks up whatever was on the fruit and the ground, and with no pasteurization or UV treatment nothing kills it before the jug is sealed. The FDA flags untreated juice as a specific hazard for pregnant drinkers and requires a warning label on juice sold without a pathogen-reduction step, naming E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Cryptosporidium. These are not mild upsets: E. coli O157:H7 can cause bloody diarrhea and kidney complications, and severe dehydration or fever in pregnancy can trigger problems of its own. Pasteurized cider tastes nearly identical, and bringing raw cider to a boil for one minute, as you would for mulled cider, makes it safe.
Safer alternatives
- Pasteurized apple cider from the refrigerated grocery aisle
- Shelf-stable apple juice such as Martinelli's or Tree Top
- Raw cider simmered into hot mulled cider with cinnamon and cloves
- Sparkling apple juice for a celebratory glass
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
How do I tell if apple cider is pasteurized?
Check the label for the words pasteurized or UV treated, and look for the FDA warning statement that untreated juice must carry. Shelf-stable cider in the regular grocery aisle is treated by definition, since untreated juice has to stay refrigerated. At a farm stand or orchard, just ask, they will know.
Is hard cider different from unpasteurized cider?
Hard cider is alcoholic, so it is off the list for a different reason: no amount of alcohol has been shown safe in pregnancy. Unpasteurized sweet cider is non-alcoholic but carries the bacterial risk instead. Neither belongs in your glass, though pasteurized sweet cider is fine.
I drank raw cider before I knew, what now?
Most people who drink untreated cider never get sick, and there is no test or treatment to take preventively. Keep an eye out over the next week for diarrhea, especially bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps or fever, and call your provider if those show up. From here, stick with pasteurized bottles.
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