Rolling Acres unpasteurized apple cider linked to a mysterious number of illnesses in Ontario

Hallowe’en in North Carolina is kind of awesome. Unlike my childhood where I had to wear a ski jacket underneath my Superman costume, tonight’s temps in Raleigh will be in the 60s. Capitalizing on the nice weather, our neighborhood will look like a street party. Beyond the traditional candy, chocolate and boxes of raisins, some folks will give out hot dogs and hot chocolate to adults; others will have apple cider.20141030ba_1414719717551_eng

I’ll be asking whether the cider is pasteurized.

According the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) unpasteurized apple cider at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market in Waterloo, Ontario (thats in Canada) has been linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. How many cases and hospitalizations and where the cider was consumed is still a mystery (to me at least, it’s not listed on the CFIA website).

Rolling Acres Cider Mill is recalling unpasteurized apple cider from the marketplace due to possible E. coliO157:H7 contamination.

The following products have been sold by Rolling Acres Cider Mill at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market located in Waterloo, Ontario on October 11, 2014 and from the company’s own location in Waterloo, Ontario between October 10, 2014 and October 11, 2014.

This recall was triggered by findings by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

There have been reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

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About Ben Chapman

Dr. Ben Chapman is a professor and food safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University. As a teenager, a Saturday afternoon viewing of the classic cable movie, Outbreak, sparked his interest in pathogens and public health. With the goal of less foodborne illness, his group designs, implements, and evaluates food safety strategies, messages, and media from farm-to-fork. Through reality-based research, Chapman investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers, and organizational decision-makers; the gate keepers of safe food. Ben co-hosts a biweekly podcast called Food Safety Talk and tries to further engage folks online through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and, maybe not surprisingly, Pinterest. Follow on Twitter @benjaminchapman.