Apple Cider Vinegar FAQ's

This page is here to help enlighten you, our friends and customers, about the most common areas of interest concerning Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). By presenting you with frequently asked questions we hope to provide you with simple and concise answers to your queries.

1 - What is Natural Apple Cider Vinegar?
2 - What is the nature of the Mother?
3 - Why is ACV not pasteurized?
4 - Is it okay to eat/drink the Mother?
5 - Since Apple Cider Vinegar is not pasteurized, is it protected from E.Coli bacteria?
6 - What type of barrels are used during production?
7 - Does Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar need to be refrigerated?
8 - What is the shelf life of Apple Cider Vinegar?
9 - Where is the expiration date printed?
10 - Is Apple Cider Vinegar safe to take during pregnancy?
11 - Is it possible to take too much Apple Cider Vinegar?
12 - Is it necessary to add honey to ACV?
13 - Is it okay to take the Apple Cider Vinegar by itself?
14 - What, exactly, are the internal and external benefits attributed to ACV?
15 - Is Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Gluten Free?
16 - I don't see the "Mother" in my bottle of Bragg ACV. Is it not there?
17 - Where do you get the apples that are used for your ACV products?
18 - Do your apple products contain arsenic?

1 - What is Natural Apple Cider Vinegar?

Different from the refined and distilled vinegars usually found in supermarkets, Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is made from fresh, crushed, organically grown apples and allowed to mature in wooden barrels, which boosts its natural fermentation qualities. When mature, it contains a web-like substance, called "mother" that becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother can be used to add to other vinegar to hasten maturity for more Apple Cider Vinegar.[BACK]

2 - What is the nature of the Mother?

The mother is the dark, cloudy substance in the ACV formed from naturally occurring pectin and apple residues - it appears as molecules of protein connected in strand-like chains. The presence of the mother shows that the best part of the apple has not been destroyed. Vinegars containing the mother contain enzymes and minerals that other vinegars may not contain due to overprocessing, filtration and overheating. [BACK]

3 - Why is ACV not pasteurized?

Pasteurization is the heating process intended to remove potential problem bacteria from consumable liquids such as milk, juices etc. However, this process will also remove delicate nutrients and enzymes that may constitute a major portion of the food value of that consumed. In the case of Bragg’s Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, pasteurization would eliminate the "mother", a major health giving factor
of our vinegar. [BACK]

4 - Is it okay to eat/drink the Mother?

The mother is the most nutritious part of the Apple Cider Vinegar and is very beneficial to digest. Often the ‘mother’ settles to the bottom of the bottle. We recommend shaking
the bottle lightly to distribute the ‘mother’ before dispensing. [BACK]

5 - Since Apple Cider Vinegar is unpasteurized, is it protected from E.Coli bacteria?

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar does not carry the E.Coli bacteria as the acidity in the vinegar is effective in killing the 0-157 strain of E.Coli bacteria. [BACK]

6 - What type of barrels are used during production?

Douglas Fir/Redwood barrels as well as stainless steel barrels are used during the production of our Apple Cider Vinegar.[BACK]

7 - Does Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar need to be refrigerated?

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar does not need to be refrigerated. We only recommend that you keep the product out of direct sunlight in a relatively cool location.[BACK]

8 - What is the shelf life of Apple Cider Vinegar?

ACV has an FDA required "official" shelf life of three to five years after the bottling date (found on the bottle), however, experience has shown that the product is safe, usable and effective for an indefinite period if kept out of direct sunlight. [BACK]

9 - Where is the expiration date printed?

The Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar expiration date is printed on the upper portion of the bottle, at the shoulder and neck taper area, see photo below. The upper line of the 2 contains the expiration date. The lower0 line contains the 'lot' number for the manufaturer reference and the time, in 24 hour format, that it was bottled. Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar has a shelf life of 5 years, although due to its nature, Bragg ACV can be safetly used for many years after expiration date.

10 - Is Apple Cider Vinegar safe to take during pregnancy?

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar is safe to take during and after pregnancy. It helps to rid the body of toxins and may even help with any complications that may arise or have arisen with the pregnancy. It supports regularity and promotes digestion. BACK]

11 - Is it possible to take too much Apple Cider Vinegar?

There is no clear limit as to how much Apple Cider Vinegar an individual can or should ingest. However, one should remember that, as with anything in life, one can have "too much of a good thing". It is recommended that an individual take the ACV cocktail three times a day for maximum results. The cocktail consists of 1 to 2 tsps. organic raw ACV mixed with 1 to 2 tsps. raw honey in a glass of distilled water. [BACK]

12 - Is it necessary to add honey to ACV?

It is not imperative to add honey to the Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar cocktail; just use ACV and distilled water instead. We receive many letters from people who tell us about the many health benefits that they attribute to taking the Bragg ACV without adding honey. Honey is recommended because it has proven bioactive properties and contains the vitamins and enzymes necessary for the proper digestion and metabolism. It does add health benefits to the ACV cocktail, but fortunately the ACV has plenty of health uses and benefits without the honey. [BACK]

13 - Is it okay to take the Apple Cider Vinegar by itself?

It is recommended that you take the Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water or juice. Because Apple Cider Vinegar acts like a sponge, drawing toxins from the body tissues, it may cause you discomfort if you choose to digest the vinegar using spoonfuls only. [BACK]

14 - What, exactly, are the internal and external benefits attributed to ACV?

Following the old cliché, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," apples are one of the oldest, most nutritious foods on earth. They are rich in potassium, a mineral many of us are deficient in, and a deficiency that causes old age to creep upon us sooner. Calcium maintains our hard tissues such as bones, and potassium is the equivalent to the body’s soft tissues, keeping the body’s flesh and arteries soft and resilient. Fresh, organic apples are used to make Apple Cider Vinegar, which contains necessary ingredients, such as enzymes, and life-stimulating minerals, mainly potassium, in a natural state. Besides being a natural stimulant for vitality, Apple Cider Vinegar cleanses and restores nutrients to the body so that the body can heal itself. [BACK]

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: Helps Remove Body Toxins * Helps Promote a Youthful Body *Helps support a healthy immune system * Helps Maintain Healthy Skin * Helps Control Weight * Improves Digestion and Assimilation * Soothes Tight and Aching Joints and Sore Muscles from exercise * Soothes irritated skin.

For storage, we recommend that you keep your Apple Cider Vinegar out of direct sunlight, in a relatively cool location. [BACK]

15 - Is Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Gluten Free?

Yes. Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar is Naturally Gluten Free.[BACK]

16 - I don't see the "Mother" in my bottle of Bragg ACV. Is it not there?

The "Mother" is not always visible. Rest assured, even if it's not visible, we make sure the "Mother" is always present in every bottle of Bragg ACV.[BACK]

17 - Where do you get the apples that are used for your ACV products?

Bragg uses only Certified Organic apples grown in the United States. 99.9% of our apples are grown in the states of Washington and California. On occasion, a small percentage comes from the state of Idaho.[BACK]

18 - Do your apple products contain arsenic?

Many of our Bragg customers have asked about the possibility of arsenic in our Bragg apple products. Bragg organic apple products have no arsenic in them.

Arsenic is not in the apple itself or even in the main part of the apple.  The arsenic is in the seeds of the apple.  There is still debate as to how many seeds one would need to consume in order to be harmful or even a concern to an animal or a human being.  Bragg’s procedures for making Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar eliminates the last scraps of the apple, such as the seeds and stems before our products are made.  As a result there is no seed contamination in any of our Bragg products.  

Back in the 1930’s and 1940’s there was a toxic spray on the market that contained small amounts of lead arsenic.  At that time, there was  concern that residual amounts of this spray could be left in the ground.  The spray was taken off the market. Today, Bragg approved organic farmers only use organic biodegradable sprays that meet certified organic standards for growing organic apples.

Many commercial apple juices are made by using concentrate that is imported from other countries.  Some of these foreign countries follow different standards and procedures using toxic sprays and fertilizers.  Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is made from whole fresh pressed apples grown in the USA by USDA Organic standards.  Since seeds are eliminated from our products and we do not use apples from other countries, Bragg consumers are free from having a risk of arsenic in Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar products, Bragg salad dressings, and Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar drinks.

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