E Coli Detected in Uncle John's Cider

Uncle John’s Cider Mill is hoping to be back in the apple cider business as early as tomorrow, said company president Mike Beck.

The popular St. Johns orchard and mill has voluntarily ceased selling all cider products following a positive test for the bacteria E.coli in a specific batch produced and sold at the mill.

“We have ceased selling all cider and are awaiting further testing,” Mr. Beck said. “We hope to start again tomorrow morning.”

He advises anyone who has purchased the cider with a use-by date of Oct. 30 to dispose of it.

On Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issues a consumer advisory for approximately 1,200 gallons of cider produced on Oct. 17 after a routine, random sample tested positive for the Shiga-toxin producing E.coli. No illnesses have been reported.

“I want to stress, this is not a recall,” said communications manager Jennifer Holton. “Uncle John’s is doing everything they can to ensure consumer safety. They are voluntarily ceasing sales while we do additional testing.”

Testing on the cider will confirm the specific strain of E.coli, Holton said.

“It’s like a fingerprinting process for bacteria,” she said.

The cider was sold only from the mill, in the forms of various sized plastic jugs or served directly by the cup as cold cider, frozen cider slushes or hot cider from Oct. 18-Oct. 21.

E.coli symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people get better in 5-7 days but it can be severe or life-threatening, according to the press release issued by MDARD. One serious outcome is a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which leads to kidney dysfunction.