YummyYucky

From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

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Can Babies Eat Unpasteurized Juice? Safety and Risks

Unpasteurized (fresh-pressed or raw) juice and cider are not safe for babies because they are not heat-treated, so they can carry E. coli and other harmful germs. Serve only pasteurized juice, and remember that whole fruit is a better choice for babies than juice at all.

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When to introduce
Skip unpasteurized entirely; pasteurized juice only after 12 months
Common allergen?
No (not a common allergen)
Texture
Thin liquid, offered in a cup
Key nutrients
Sugar and some vitamin C, but no fiber

Unpasteurized juice and cider are pressed straight from raw fruit and never heated, which means any germs on the fruit can end up in the drink. Because babies have immune systems that are still developing, they should not have unpasteurized juice or cider at any age. If you do offer juice, wait until at least 12 months, choose only pasteurized juice, and keep it to a small amount in a cup. For most babies, whole soft fruit is the better choice, since it keeps the fiber and skips the concentrated sugar.

⚠️ Even pasteurized juice is not needed in a baby's diet. Whole fruit gives the same flavor with fiber and less concentrated sugar. If you do serve juice, wait until 12 months, keep it to a small amount (4 ounces or less per day) in an open cup, and offer it with a meal rather than sipped all day.

Prep School: how to prepare unpasteurized juice and cider for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

Any ageDo not serve unpasteurized or fresh-pressed juice or cider to a baby. It is not heat-treated and can carry E. coli and other germs.
Under 12 monthsSkip juice altogether, including pasteurized. Offer whole soft fruit for the flavor and fiber, plus water or usual milk feeds for thirst.
12 months+If you choose to offer juice, use only pasteurized 100% juice, no more than 4 ounces per day, in an open or straw cup with a meal.

🥄 Purées

Any ageDo not serve unpasteurized or fresh-pressed juice or cider to a baby. It is not heat-treated and can carry E. coli and other germs.
Under 12 monthsJuice is a drink, not a spoon food, and this one is skipped either way, including pasteurized. Offer soft fruit, mashed if needed, for the flavor and fiber, with water or usual milk feeds for thirst.
12 months+If you choose to offer juice, use only pasteurized 100% juice, no more than 4 ounces per day, in an open or straw cup with a meal.

Is unpasteurized juice and cider safe? Choking & prep

The main safety issue with unpasteurized juice and cider is germs rather than choking. Raw, unheated juice can carry E. coli, Salmonella, and other bacteria and parasites that a baby's immune system cannot fight off well, so it should be skipped entirely.1 Read labels carefully: pasteurized juice has been heated to kill germs and is the only kind that is safe, while anything labeled "fresh-pressed," "raw," "cold-pressed," or "unpasteurized," or sold refrigerated at a market or orchard without a pasteurization note, is not safe for a baby. If you choose to give pasteurized juice, wait until at least 12 months, serve it plain (no added sugar), and offer only a small amount in an open or straw cup with a meal, not in a bottle or sipped throughout the day, which is hard on new teeth. Do not warm juice or add honey to it, and remember that whole soft fruit is the better everyday option.

Nutrition

Juice provides sugar and some vitamin C, but it lacks the fiber that whole fruit has, and even 100% juice is a concentrated source of natural sugar. Because of this, juice offers little that a baby actually needs, and health guidance is to skip it under 12 months and keep it small after that. Whole fruit, such as soft pear, banana, or berries cut safely, delivers the same vitamins along with fiber, and it helps babies learn to eat and chew. If your baby is thirsty, water (from around 6 months, in small amounts) or their usual milk feeds are the drinks to reach for.

Goes well with

Pear · Banana · Water · Whole strawberries (cut safely)

Storage & freezing

If you use pasteurized juice, keep the bottle refrigerated once opened and use it within the time on the label, usually about 7 to 10 days. Pour a small serving into a cup rather than letting your baby drink from the bottle, and discard any juice left in a cup after a feed. Unpasteurized juice and cider are best not kept in the house for a baby at all; if other family members drink it, store it well away from a baby's cups and reach.

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Related reading

Common questions

Can babies have unpasteurized or fresh-pressed juice?

No. Unpasteurized juice and cider are not heated to kill germs, so they can carry E. coli and other bacteria that can make a baby seriously ill. Only pasteurized juice is safe, and even that is best skipped before 12 months.

How do I know if a juice is pasteurized?

Check the label. Pasteurized juice says so, and most shelf-stable bottled and boxed juices are pasteurized. Anything labeled fresh-pressed, raw, cold-pressed, or unpasteurized, or sold cold at a market or orchard without a pasteurization note, is not safe for a baby.

Is apple cider safe for babies?

Only if it is pasteurized, and even then it is best skipped under 12 months. Fresh or raw cider from an orchard or farm stand is usually unpasteurized and can carry harmful germs, so do not give it to a baby.

Should babies drink juice at all?

They do not need it. Health guidance is to skip juice before 12 months, and after that keep it to a small amount (4 ounces or less a day) of pasteurized juice in a cup. Whole soft fruit and water are better everyday choices.

What if my baby accidentally had some unpasteurized juice?

A single small taste is unlikely to cause harm, but watch for vomiting, diarrhea (especially if bloody), or fever over the next few days. If any of those appear, or your baby seems unwell, contact your pediatrician promptly.

Sources

  1. FDA: What You Need to Know About Juice Safety
  2. FDA: Flour, Raw Food and Other Safety Facts
  3. FDA: Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Further reading

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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