According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), juices provide many important nutrients, but consuming untreated juices can pose health risks to your family. When fruits and vegetables are fresh-squeezed or used raw, bacteria on the outside of the produce can end up in your juice or cider. With that in mind, it is beneficial to follow these food safety tips from the U.S. FDA when making juice at home:

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after preparation.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables. Throw away any produce that looks rotten.
• Wash all produce thoroughly under running water before cutting or cooking, including produce grown at home or bought from a grocery store or farmers’ market. 
• Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush. Even if you plan to peel the produce before juicing it, wash it first so dirt and bacteria are not transferred from the surface when peeling or cutting into it.
• After washing, dry produce with a clean cloth towel or paper towel to further reduce bateria that may be present on the surface.