Can you get sick from drinking old juice?
It’s common to accidentally leave a glass of juice out on the counter overnight. Or maybe you poured a cup for your kid and they never drank it. Is it still safe to consume juice that’s sat out for awhile? Here’s a quick answer:
Yes, you can get sick from drinking juice that’s been left out too long. Juice can grow harmful bacteria if it’s left at room temperature for too many hours. Drinking spoiled juice may cause food poisoning symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
To be safe, you should throw out any juice that’s been sitting out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Juice that’s been left out overnight should definitely be discarded.
Why does juice spoil if it’s left out?
There are a few reasons why juice can spoil and become unsafe to drink if it’s left out unrefrigerated:
Bacteria growth
All juices contain some natural bacteria. When juice is refrigerated, the cold temperatures keep bacteria from multiplying rapidly. But when left out at room temperature, bacteria grows very quickly.
Given enough time, bacteria populations can grow to high enough levels to cause illness. Especially concerning are pathogenic bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which can all lead to foodborne disease.
Yeast and mold growth
Sugary juices provide the perfect breeding ground for yeasts and molds. Exposure to oxygen allows these fungi to thrive. You may notice mold growing on the surface of old juice. Consuming moldy juice can cause allergic reactions, irritation, and illness.
Nutrient loss
Juice contains many beneficial nutrients like vitamin C, antioxidants, and enzymes. When left out for too long, concentrations of these heat-sensitive nutrients start to degrade. Nutrient levels can drop significantly, reducing the health benefits of drinking the juice.
How long can juice be left out before it goes bad?
So how long can you leave a glass of juice sitting on the kitchen counter before it’s considered unsafe to drink?
Here are some general guidelines on juice shelf life:
– **Up to 2 hours:** Juice can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 hours before bacteria levels become risky. Drink juice within 2 hours of pouring for best safety and quality.
– **4-6 hours:** If juice sits out for more than 2 hours but less than 6 hours, it enters the danger zone for bacterial growth. Juice 4-6 hours old should be discarded.
– **Over 6 hours:** Juice that’s sat at room temperature overnight or for over 6 hours is very prone to bacterial contamination. The juice should be thrown out.
– **Opened, refrigerated juice:** Once opened, juice can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Discard any leftovers after 5 days.
– **Unopened pasteurized juice:** Commercially packaged, pasteurized juices kept sealed can stay fresh in the fridge for 7-10 days past the sell-by date.
– **Unopened unpasteurized juice:** Unpasteurized juice has a shorter shelf life, lasting only about 3-5 days refrigerated.
Keeping juice refrigerated, sealed, and consuming leftovers quickly are the best ways to maximize freshness and prevent spoilage.
What are signs that juice has spoiled?
How can you tell if that leftover glass of juice is still okay to drink or has spoiled? Look for these red flags:
– **Change in color:** Juice will appear darker or muted if pigments and nutrients have started to break down. Separated layers or clumping can also develop.
– **Cloudiness:** Particles, debris, or microbial growth will make juice look hazy and opaque instead of clear.
– **Off odors:** Smell the juice. Spoiled juice gives off foul, sour, or unpleasant smells.
– **Fizzing:** Fermentation produces carbonation. Bubbles or hissing from bacteria activity is not a good sign.
– **Mold:** Any fuzzy mold spots, webbing, or dry residue on the juice’s surface means it’s time to throw it out.
– **Expired date:** If it’s past the drink- or sell-by date, don’t take any chances. Toss it.
When inspecting older juice, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If there are any odd changes from its normal appearance, aroma, or texture, the juice is likely spoiled.
What health risks come with drinking bad juice?
Drinking juice that’s gone bad puts you at risk for food poisoning. Consuming too much microbial contamination or toxins can lead to illness.
Potential health effects include:
– **Nausea and vomiting:** One of the first symptoms, as your body tries to expel the toxins.
– **Diarrhea:** Pathogens and toxins irritate the digestive tract, causing loose stools.
– **Abdominal pain and cramps:** You may experience intense cramping, bloating, and discomfort from inflammation in the intestines.
– **Fever:** Your immune system kicks into overdrive to fight off infection, causing a raised body temperature.
– **Headache:** Toxins and dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea can trigger severe headaches.
– **Fatigue:** Illness wears down the body, leaving you feeling tired and weak.
– **Signs of food poisoning usually begin within 12 hours of consuming contaminated juice. Symptoms can last for 1-3 days as the illness runs its course. Severe diarrhea may require medical treatment to avoid dehydration.**
Who is most at risk from drinking spoiled juice?
Some people have a higher chance of getting sick from drinking juice that’s sat out too long:
– **Children:** Kids’ underdeveloped immune systems make them more vulnerable to pathogens and toxins.
– **Elderly:** Seniors have weaker immune defenses and greater sensitivity to foodborne illness.
– **Pregnant women:** Hormonal changes reduce immunity, putting expectant mothers at increased risk. Illness can also endanger the unborn baby.
– **Those with compromised immunity:** Existing illnesses like HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, steroids, and chronic diseases impair the body’s ability to fight infection.
– **Anyone with food allergies or intolerances:** They may react severely even to small amounts of problematic compounds in spoiled juice.
It’s especially important for high-risk groups to be cautious about consuming juice that could be contaminated. When in doubt, play it safe and throw it out.
How to store juice properly to prevent spoilage
To get the most freshness and shelf life out of juice, be sure to store it correctly:
– **Refrigerate after opening.** Keep juice chilled at 40°F or below once opened. This drastically slows bacteria growth.
– **Keep in airtight containers.** Limiting oxidation will help retain nutrients.
– **Don’t let juice sit at room temperature.** Avoid leaving juice out for more than 2 hours.
– **Monitor refrigerator temperature.** Use a thermometer and adjust as needed. Higher fridge temps allow faster spoilage.
– **Check sell-by dates.** Don’t drink unopened juice past its recommended date.
– **Clean containers and lids.** Wash all utensils that contact juice to remove residual microbes.
– **Use clean utensils.** Never return a used glass to the juice container, as bacteria could spread.
Proper refrigerated storage and hygienic practices give you the best chance of your juice staying fresh for as long as possible.
Can you make bad juice safe to drink again?
Is there any way to rescue juice that’s been left out overnight or has started to spoil? Here are a few potential options:
– **Boiling:** Heating juice to a boil can kill most bacteria, viruses, and molds. But this also destroys many beneficial nutrients.
– **Add preservatives.** Adding lemon juice, vitamin C, or sodium benzoate preservatives lowers pH and inhibits microbial growth. However, this changes the juice’s flavor and nutrition.
– **Blending:** Mixing in fresh juice or blending in other ingredients like fruits can mask foul tastes. But toxic compounds could still remain.
– **Alcohol fermentation:** Fermenting juice into wine or vinegar can make it safer, but still not recommended.
**Most authorities, including the USDA, argue that spoiled juice simply should not be consumed, even if steps are taken to make it safer. The most reliable approach is to fully discard bad juice to avoid any foodborne illness risk. Don’t take chances with your health.**
Tips for handling juice safely
Here are some final tips for properly handling juice:
– Always refrigerate juice after opening. Don’t leave it sitting out.
– Use clean utensils each time you access the juice. Never double-dip a used cup back into the container.
– Check for signs of spoilage like changes in appearance, texture, or smell. When in doubt, throw it out.
– Adhere to juice sell-by dates and don’t consume past expiration.
– Be extra careful with juice handling around high-risk groups like children, elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immunity.
– Store juices in the refrigerator below 40°F. Monitor fridge temps with a thermometer.
– Keep juice in airtight, sealed containers to limit oxygen exposure.
– Wash hands, utensils, containers, and surfaces before and after juice contact.
Being attentive to time and temperature control, hygiene, and food safety practices will help ensure juice stays fresh and enjoyable to drink. Discard any juice that could potentially have quality issues or make you sick.
Conclusion
Drinking spoiled juice can introduce foodborne pathogens, toxins, and other compounds that may trigger nausea, diarrhea, and other unpleasant symptoms. Juice can generally stay fresh for 2 hours at room temperature or about 5 days refrigerated. But once open or past expiration dates, juices should not be consumed if there are any signs of spoilage like changes in color, smell, appearance, or carbonation. While methods like boiling may reduce risks, they cannot make bad juice completely safe to drink again. The best approach is careful juice handling and storage to prevent spoilage in the first place. But when in doubt, remember it’s better to be safe and throw it out. Following basic food safety practices can keep juice fresh and enjoyable while avoiding the dangers of drinking contaminated, out-of-date juice.
