Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are advising parents and caregivers that children should not be served unpasteurized apple juice or other unpasteurized products, such as unpasteurized cider, fruit juices and raw milk.

Unpasteurized products have the potential to be contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as salmonella and escherichia coli O157:H7, which can make vulnerable individuals such as children and the elderly, especially those under the age of six, very ill, and even lead to death.

Disease-causing organisms such as E. coli O157:H7, salmonella, cryptosporidium and viruses have been known to cause illness in people after consuming unpasteurized juice/cider.

Health Canada is considering making the labelling "unpasteurized" mandatory on unpasteurized fruit juices and cider products. Health Canada will be holding a stakeholder consultation on proposed labelling options this fall.