Drinking expired juice can potentially cause health issues due to bacterial growth and chemical changes that occur in juice over time. However, the actual risks depend on the type of juice, the expiration date, how it was stored, and your own health status.
How juice expires
Juice has a shelf life and an expiration date printed on the packaging. This expiration date is usually printed as a “best by” or “use by” date. The expiration date tells you the last day the juice will be at peak quality. The shelf life is the entire timeframe the unopened juice should retain proper color, texture, taste, and nutritional value.
Here are the factors that cause juice to expire and degrade over time:
- Oxidation – Exposure to oxygen causes chemical changes in the nutrients, flavor, color, and texture.
- Microbial growth – Bacteria, mold, and yeast can grow over time, especially if juice is stored at warmer temperatures.
- Nutrient loss – Vitamins like C and A degrade over time with exposure to light, air, and higher temperatures.
- Color & flavor change – Pigments and volatile compounds break down and cause changes in the color, taste, and aroma.
- Separation – Ingredients like pulp and aromatics can separate and settle.
While unopened juices stay fresh longer, these changes still occur, especially towards the end of the shelf life. Once opened, juice expires much more quickly.
What happens when you drink expired juice?
Drinking juice after the expiration date is not guaranteed to make you sick. However, there are certain risks to be aware of:
Nutrient loss
Over time, juice loses nutrient content, especially vitamin C and certain B vitamins which are sensitive to oxygen, light, and heat. While expired juice may still provide vitamins and minerals, it won’t likely have the same nutritional value as fresh juice.
Unpleasant taste and texture
Expired juice tends to develop an unpleasant taste, aroma, and mouthfeel. Oxidation creates off-flavors and the texture becomes more pulpy or muddy. Separation can also make the juice watery or syrupy.
Foodborne illness
Consuming contaminated, spoiled juice can potentially lead to foodborne illness. Bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria can grow in expired juice, especially if it was improperly stored. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and cramps.
However, the acidity in most juices creates an unfavorable environment for prolific bacterial growth. Pathogens are more likely to grow in vegetable or low-acid juices. Severe illness is rare unless the juice contains other contaminated ingredients or the consumer has a weakened immune system.
Mold exposure
If mold grows in expired juice, drinking it could expose you to mycotoxins. Inhaling airborne mold spores can also trigger allergic reactions or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.
Risks by juice type
Not all juices have the same safety profile when they go past the expiration date. Here are some specifics:
Citrus juice
Orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and other citrus juices are acidic with a typical pH around 3-5. Acidity prevents microbial growth, so these juices stay safe to drink for 2-3 weeks past the printed date, unless mold develops.
Apple juice
Unopened, pasteurized apple juice keeps for 5-7 days past its expiration date stored in the fridge. Opened apple juice only lasts 1-2 days in the fridge due to oxidation and microbial growth.
Vegetable juice
Unlike fruit juices, many vegetable juices are not acidic. Once opened, they only stay fresh for about 2-3 days refrigerated. Drink vegetable juice by the expiration date, and toss expired bottles.
Juice blends
Blended juices have a mix of ingredients with higher or lower acidity. Treat them like lower-acid juices and drink within 2-3 days once opened. Discard expired bottled blends after 5-7 days if unopened.
Unpasteurized juice
Unpasteurized juices have a shorter shelf life, usually 5-7 days refrigerated. Only drink unpasteurized juice before the use by date, and be extra cautious with expired bottles due to food safety risks.
Shelf stable juice
Shelf stable juices last for months unopened, but degrade rapidly once opened. Drink within 2-3 days of opening shelf stable juice and avoid drinking from expired containers.
Juice pouches
The foil pouches block light and oxygen to help juice stay fresher. Unopened pouches keep refrigerated for 7-10 days past the date. Opened pouches should be consumed within 1-2 days.
Juice boxes
Individually sealed juice boxes keep unopened for up to 2 weeks refrigerated. But once punctured with the straw, juice boxes expire after just 1-2 days due to oxygen exposure.
Frozen juice concentrate
Unopened frozen juice concentrate lasts 9-12 months in the freezer but should be tossed if expired. Thawed concentrate lasts 3-5 days in the fridge before expiring.
Storage affects expiration
How you store juice before and after opening also influences how long it stays usable past the expiration date. Here are some storage tips:
- Store unopened juice in the coolest part of the refrigerator, around 34-40°F.
- Avoid storage in the refrigerator door which exposes juice to warmer air and light each time it’s opened.
- Keep juice away from raw meats, fish, and poultry which can cross-contaminate.
- Store opened juice containers towards the front of the fridge.
- Don’t let juice sit at room temperature more than 2 hours before refrigerating.
- Keep the juice packaging intact as long as possible to block light and oxygen.
- Throw away juice that smells odd or shows any mold growth.
Who is most at risk from expired juice?
While most healthy adults won’t get sick from drinking expired juice, some groups have higher risk:
- Infants and young children whose immune systems aren’t fully developed.
- Pregnant women as illness can affect the fetus.
- Older adults whose immune function declines with age.
- People with weakened immune systems from medical conditions like HIV/AIDS, cancer treatment, diabetes, etc.
- Individuals taking medications that reduce stomach acidity like antacids, H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors.
Those with higher vulnerability to infection should not drink expired juice. If unsure about juice freshness, it’s better to be safe and throw it out.
How to tell if expired juice is spoiled?
Look for these signs that juice has spoiled and could make you sick:
- Off odor – Spoiled juice smells yeasty, fermented, or unpleasant.
- Fizzing – Bubbles or hissing indicate fermentation and carbon dioxide production.
- Mold – Fuzzy mold spots even in small amounts make juice unsafe.
- Separation – Watery layer on top of settled sediment signals microbes breaking down contents.
- Discoloration – Changes from normal color can mean chemical oxidation or microbial growth.
- Sliminess – Increased viscosity, stickiness, or slippery texture is a red flag.
Use your best judgment based on these signs of spoilage. When in doubt, remember it’s better to be safe than sick – if juice seems off, err on the side of caution and discard it.
Can expired juice make you sick?
Drinking spoiled, contaminated juice can definitely make you sick. Here are some common foodborne illnesses transmitted through juice:
Salmonella
Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever, cramps, nausea lasting 1-7 days. Infection usually occurs from contaminated produce used in juice.
E. coli
E. coli induces severe bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain lasting 5-10 days. Juice ingredients like apple cider are occasional sources.
Listeria
Listeria leads to fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may suffer miscarriage, stillbirth, or illness in newborns.Risk is mainly with unpasteurized juice.
Norovirus
Norovirus spreads quickly, causing vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and cramps. Contaminated water used in juice production can transmit norovirus.
While juices have an overall good safety profile, drinking expired, contaminated juice greatly increases your odds of developing one of these unpleasant illnesses. Pay close attention to juice freshness and err on the side of caution.
Tips for drinking juice safely
You can enjoy juice without worry using these safety practices:
- Read juice date labels and only consume by the “use by” or “best by” dates.
- Refrigerate juice after opening and consume within 2-3 days.
- Inspect juice before drinking – discard if it smells, looks, or tastes odd.
- Wash fruits and vegetables before juicing to remove pathogens.
- Clean juicer parts thoroughly before each use.
- Choose pasteurized juice for higher safety when possible.
- Avoid drinking unpasteurized juice if you are in a higher risk group.
- Keep juice away from raw meat juices and other contaminants in the refrigerator.
- Don’t leave juice sitting out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Following basic food safety practices helps prevent foodborne illness from juice while still enjoying its nutrition. Be aware of juice expiration, storage, and signs of spoilage.
Conclusion
Drinking expired juice may occasionally cause illness, but it depends on many factors. The best practice is avoiding expired juice, especially if you’re in a higher risk group. Look for signs of spoilage, follow safe storage methods, and stick to juice by its “use by” date. While juice provides many benefits, it’s smart to take basic precautions to reduce the chances of foodborne illness.
