Health Canada's Guidance Document on Unpasteurized Fruit Juice and Cider

Bureau of Microbial Hazards
Food Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch

Issue Date: October 2014

Summary

The document provides guidance on intervention strategies to reduce the risk of burden of illness in Canada from the consumption of unpasteurized juice and cider. This guidance document applies to both domestic and imported unpasteurized fruit juice and cider, and was developed following the completion of a health risk assessment on the consumption of unpasteurized fruit juice and cider. This guidance document is based on the current scientific opinion that the contamination of these products originates from poor hygienic practices during pre- and post-harvest, as well as production, and that the risk of pathogen transmission can be reduced to a minimum using good agricultural and manufacturing practices.

The objectives of the guidance document are to: a) reduce the likelihood of illness associated with the consumption of unpasteurized fruit juice and cider by both the general public and susceptible sub-populations; b) reduce the possibility of contamination of unpasteurized fruit juice and cider by harmful microorganisms; and, c) respect the consumer's right to choose by providing tools, such as labelling and consumer education, with which they can make informed choices.

Food safety enforcement bodies at the federal, provincial and territorial level may use this guidance document as a reference to assess adherence of the industry to good agricultural and manufacturing practices as it relates to the reduction of pathogens in unpasteurized juice and cider. Thus, this guidance may be used to assess compliance with general requirements of food safety legislation or regulations, in particular, compliance with Sections 4 and 7 of the

Food and Drugs Act

.

Guidance Document

To obtain an electronic copy of the document, Guidance Document on Unpasteurized Fruit Juice and Cider, please contact our publication office or send an e-mail to publications@hc-sc.gc.ca with the subject heading "HPFB BMH Guidance Unpasteurized Juice and Cider".

Contact Information

Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate

If you wish to contact the Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate electronically, please use the words "Unpasteurized juice" in the subject line of your e-mail.