From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Can Babies Eat Unpasteurized Juice? Safety and Risks
Unpasteurized (fresh-pressed or raw) juice and cider are not safe for babies because they have not been treated to kill germs, so they can carry E. coli and other harmful germs. Serve only pasteurized or otherwise treated juice, and remember that whole fruit is a better choice for babies than juice at all.
⛔ Pasteurized only; unpasteurized juice and cider can carry E. coli.
Unpasteurized juice and cider are not safe for babies. Because they are pressed from raw fruit and not treated to kill germs, they can carry harmful bacteria that cause serious illness in children.1 Unpasteurized apple cider has been linked to outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 and Cryptosporidium,3 and some E. coli infections cause severe bloody diarrhea and a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.2 Some grocery stores, health food stores, cider mills, farmers markets, and juice bars sell juice made on site that has not been treated. Packaged untreated juice must carry a warning label, but juice sold by the glass does not need one, so ask.1 The safe kind is pasteurized juice, or juice treated by another process to kill germs, which is most of the juice sold in the US.1 When in doubt, do not serve it. Better still, offer whole soft fruit instead of juice.
Some foods have rules. YummyYucky remembers them for you. Track what your baby eats and the app flags foods like unpasteurized juice and cider the moment they come up, watches every new allergen for three days after the first taste, and keeps the whole record dated and pediatrician-ready.
Start tracking for free →- When to introduce
- Skip unpasteurized or untreated juice entirely; pasteurized or treated 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 not treated to kill germs, 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 or otherwise treated 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.
Prep School: unpasteurized juice and cider by age, and what to offer instead
🍴 Baby-led weaning
🥄 Purées
Is unpasteurized juice and cider safe? Choking & prep
The main safety issue with unpasteurized juice and cider is germs rather than choking. Untreated juice can carry E. coli and other bacteria and parasites that can make children seriously ill, so it should be skipped entirely.123 Read labels carefully. Pasteurized juice, or juice treated by another process to kill germs, is the safe kind. Packaged juice that has not been treated must carry this warning: "WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems." Juice sold by the glass at orchards, farmers markets, roadside stands, and juice bars does not need that label, so ask. "Cold-pressed" alone does not tell you either way: look for the warning or ask.1 If you choose to give pasteurized or treated 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 or treated 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.
More foods to explore
Related reading
- What to feed your baby first →
- How to cut food to prevent choking →
- Signs your baby is ready for solids →
- Baby-led weaning vs. purées →
Common questions
Can babies have unpasteurized or fresh-pressed juice?
No. Unpasteurized juice and cider have not been treated to kill germs, so they can carry E. coli and other bacteria that can make a baby seriously ill. Only pasteurized or otherwise treated juice is safe, and even that is best skipped before 12 months.
How do I know if a juice is pasteurized?
Look for the warning label. Packaged juice that has not been pasteurized or otherwise treated must say "This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria," so skip anything that carries it. Most juice sold in the US is pasteurized or treated, including juice boxes and shelf-stable bottles. Juice or cider sold by the glass at an orchard, farmers market, roadside stand, or juice bar does not need the warning, so ask, and if nobody can tell you, do not serve it. "Cold-pressed" alone does not tell you either way.
Is apple cider safe for babies?
Only if it is pasteurized or otherwise treated, 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 or otherwise treated 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, or fever. Illness from contaminated juice usually starts within 1 to 3 days, but it can show up as soon as 20 minutes or as late as 6 weeks later.1 Call your pediatrician the same day if any of those signs appear or there is blood in the poop, and mention the juice, since dehydration can happen quickly in young children.4 Some E. coli infections lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which the CDC calls a medical emergency. Go to the ER or call 911 right away if your baby has little or no pee, loses the pink color in their cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, has unexplained bruises or tiny red spots, has blood in their pee, or is very tired or less alert than usual.4 Call 911 for a baby who goes floppy or limp, or is suddenly sleepy or hard to wake.
Sources
- FDA: What You Need to Know About Juice Safety
- FDA: Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- CDC MMWR: E. coli O157:H7 and Cryptosporidiosis Outbreaks Linked to Unpasteurized Apple Cider (1996)
- CDC: Symptoms of E. coli Infection
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Infant and Toddler Nutrition
Track it in YummyYucky
Log first tries and reactions, with an automatic allergen tracker when a food needs one, all in one place you can share with your pediatrician.
Start tracking for freeLast 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.
Some links in our guides are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only suggest things we'd actually use, and it never changes our guidance.