Apple cider pairs perfectly with pumpkin spice and is the quintessential fall treat, but health experts recommend taking a quick step before knocking back a glass of your favorite foods.

Health officials have issued seasonal recommendations based on guidelines from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to avoid unpasteurized juices, which may contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

Bacteria from the fresh apples used to make cider can get into your drink if the product is not pasteurized, meaning it has not been treated with heat or ultraviolet light to kill harmful pathogens.

Here’s what you should know to stay safe.

The Dangers of Unpasteurized Juices

The FDA has received reports over the years of unpasteurized apple cider and other fruit juices causing foodborne illness, commonly referred to as food poisoning.

Untreated juice and cider can contain bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and Cryptosporidium parasites, according to guidelines from the government of Canada, another country with numerous apple orchards.

Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems may be particularly vulnerable to serious illness and even death from consuming unpasteurized apple cider.

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, and body aches, and they usually occur within one to three days of drinking the contaminated juice.

Are most ciders pasteurized?

The majority of juices sold in the US are pasteurized, so most products at your local grocery store won’t pose a problem in this regard. Most juices made from concentrate, as well as canned, bottled, and juice boxed ciders sold in grocery aisles away from the refrigerated sections, are usually pasteurized.

However, according to the FDA, some health food stores, cider mills, farmers markets and juice bars may sell locally made juice that is not pasteurized.

Untreated juice is usually sold in the refrigerated section of every market. However, freezing or refrigerating the unpasteurized juice does not remove potential bacteria – this is only achieved through the process of pasteurization, according to Canadian guidelines.

How do I know if apple cider is unpasteurized?

Unpasteurized juices that are packaged and sold are required by the FDA to carry a warning label that reads as follows:

WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

Pay attention not only to the label, but also to the best-before date on the packaging and dispose of the packaging if it has expired.

However, there is another area that you should definitely check again. Apple orchards, cider mills, and farmers markets that sell cider by the glass are not required by the FDA to post a warning label.

In this case, it’s best to ask if the cider is unpasteurized if you’re unsure.

The FDA also has guidelines if you want to make your own apple cider at home after a day of apple picking.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds and trim away any damaged or bruised areas of the apples. Additionally, wash all apples thoroughly under running water and dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe away any remaining bacteria.

And pregnant people and young children should avoid drinking freshly squeezed juices with apple cider, according to the FDA.