What can happen if I drink expired juice?

Drinking expired juice can potentially cause health issues depending on how long past the expiration date the juice has been stored. While juice that has recently expired may just taste unpleasant, juice that is significantly past its expiration can grow harmful bacteria and cause foodborne illness. Let’s take a closer look at what can happen if you drink expired juice.

How long does unopened juice last past its expiration date?

The shelf life of juice depends on a variety of factors such as the type of juice, whether it has been pasteurized, how it was packaged, and how it was stored. Here are some general guidelines for how long unopened juice may last past its printed expiration date when properly stored:

Type of Juice	Time After Expiration Date
Pasteurized juice	2-3 weeks
Fresh squeezed juice	3-5 days
Juice concentrates	6-9 months

The above timeframes are just estimates, and juice that is expired should not be stored for extended periods of time. Make sure to inspect and smell juice before drinking to check for changes in color, texture, or odor.

How long does opened juice last past its expiration date?

Once opened, juice will generally expire much quicker than unopened bottles. Here are some guidelines for how long opened juice lasts refrigerated past its expiration date:

Type of Juice	Time After Expiration Date
Pasteurized juice	3-5 days
Fresh squeezed juice	1-2 days
Juice concentrates	2-3 weeks

Make sure opened juice is kept refrigerated and tightly sealed to maximize its shelf life. As with unopened bottles, it is important to check the juice’s appearance, smell, and taste before consuming to determine if it has truly gone bad.

Signs that juice has spoiled

Here are some signs that juice has spoiled and is no longer safe to drink:

• Change in color – Juice may darken or look dull.
• Clumping or particles – Solid clumps or particles form in the juice.
• Mold – Fuzzy mold begins growing on the surface.
• Unpleasant odor – The smell becomes sour or offensive.
• Fizzing or bubbling – Bubbles or fizz form inside the bottle.
• Unpleasant taste – The flavor is noticeably off, bitter, or vinegary.

If expired juice exhibits any of these characteristics, it should not be consumed and should be discarded.

What happens if you drink spoiled juice?

Drinking juice that has spoiled can lead to food poisoning or other gastrointestinal issues. Here are some of the likely effects of drinking bad juice:

• Nausea/Vomiting – One of the most common symptoms is nausea or vomiting as your body tries to expel the harmful toxins.
• Diarrhea – Frequent loose, watery stools may result as the stomach and intestines try to quickly move out the contaminated juice.
• Abdominal cramps – Painful cramping or tightening of muscles in the abdomen commonly occurs when suffering from food poisoning.
• Headache – Many people report headaches after consuming toxins or bacteria from spoiled foods and drinks.
• Fatigue – You may feel tired or sluggish as your body works hard to recover from the infection and dehydration.

In most cases of food poisoning, symptoms occur within 12-48 hours after ingesting the spoiled beverage and last for about 1-3 days as the body clears the infection. However, it is possible for more severe illness to develop in some cases.

Potential long-term consequences

For otherwise healthy individuals, drinking expired juice will most often result in short-term digestive upset that runs its course in a few days. However, there are some rare but serious long-term consequences that can occur:

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome – A paralyzing disorder that causes muscle weakness as the immune system attacks the nervous system. Typically occurs after infection with Campylobacter bacteria.
• Reactive Arthritis – Joint pain and inflammation resulting from an infection elsewhere in the body. Associated with salmonella, campylobacter, and other bacteria.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Some studies suggest an episode of food poisoning increases risk of developing IBS, a chronic digestive disorder.
• Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome – A type of kidney failure that can result from an E. coli infection.

The likelihood of expired juice causing these severe illnesses is very low. However, pregnant women, young children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of developing secondary complications.

How to avoid getting sick from expired juice

To avoid becoming ill from drinking expired juice, follow these safe practices:

• Adhere to juice expiration dates – Don’t drink past date on label.
• Check condition before drinking – Look for changes in color, odor, etc.
• Store properly – Refrigerate after opening and discard within 3-5 days.
• Avoid risks – Don’t drink expired juice if pregnant or have a medical condition.
• Examine containers – Discard swollen or damaged packaging.
• When in doubt, throw it out! – If juice looks or smells questionable, play it safe and toss.

Treatment for illness from spoiled juice

If you develop food poisoning or other symptoms after drinking expired juice, here are some steps to help overcome the illness:

• Drink fluids – Stick to water and electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration.
• Get rest – Allow your body to rest and conserve energy to heal.
• Eat bland foods – Stick to broth, toast, rice, bananas when you can tolerate solids.
• Take OTC medications – Ibuprofen, Pepto-Bismol, or Imodium can help relieve symptoms.
• Seek medical care if severe – Get medical help for bloody stools, excessive vomiting, high fever, or signs of dehydration.

Most cases of foodborne illness resolve on their own. But contact your doctor if symptoms persist over 3 days or worsen.

Can expired juice make you sick if cooked?

Cooking expired juice can reduce the risk of food poisoning, but does not make it 100% safe. Heat from cooking may kill some bacteria, viruses, and molds. However, some toxins produced by microbes cannot be destroyed through cooking. So it is still possible to become ill from cooked expired juice, though the risk is lower than with raw juice. Whenever possible, do not drink or cook with juice past its expiration.

Conclusion

Drinking juice after its expiration date is risky and can potentially cause temporary food poisoning or, in rare cases, lead to more serious health complications. Juice can begin to spoil even before its expiration date if improperly stored. Always inspect juice carefully before drinking and discard any expired or questionable juice to avoid getting sick. With proper handling, storage, and monitoring of expiration dates, juice can be safely enjoyed without worry.