Food Protection Program
E. coli fact sheet for home juice makers
Pasteurized juice is the safest because it has been heated hot enough and long enough to kill bacteria. Here is information for people making fresh juice at home.
The E. coli bacteria are not killed by freezing. They are only killed by heat, such as pasteurization. You can do that at home by bringing your fresh juice to boiling for 45 seconds, and cooling it; then keep your juice stored in the refrigerator.
If you do not want to boil your homemade juice, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risks of bacterial contamination. These guidelines cannot be relied upon to be 100% protective against bacterial contamination, however. It is your decision whether or not you heat-treat your fresh juice.
The following steps are our recommendations for making fresh juice at home. These are good steps to follow whether or not you choose to heat-treat your juice.
Wash the fruit thoroughly
Use "elbow grease" and really scrub the fruit. A drop of detergent in the wash water can help loosen dirt. For an even higher margin of safety, use a dilute chlorine bleach solution because chlorine is an effective disinfectant. (Use 1 teaspoon household bleach in a gallon of cool water.) Rinse the fruit really well with clean water after using a detergent or chlorine wash. Also, if you wash the fruit by immersing it in water, do this in small batches and change the water frequently.
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently
Use soap and warm water. Wash hands before starting the cutting and juicing, and frequently during these steps as well. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to hum the "happy birthday" song.)
Wash your knives, boards, utensils, and juice making equipment thoroughly.
Use soap and warm water. Then use the dilute chlorine bleach solution for another disinfecting step. (Use 1 teaspoon household bleach in a gallon of cool water.) Rinse well with clean water afterwards.
Make sure the containers you are putting the fresh juice into are really clean.
Best is to sterilize them like you were making jams or jellies.
Additional information:
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