Pacific Coast Fruit of Portland, Ore. is notifying all of its customers who received Happy Apple caramel apples that they have been recalled for Listeria. The company, distributes fruit in Oregon, southwest Washington and British Columbia.
Happy Apples ceased production of caramel apples in October as part of a routine, seasonal shut down and the caramel apples produced are no longer available in stores. But a recall has been issued for caramel apples with “best if used by” dates between August 25th and November 23rd. The recall was issued after Bidart Brothers, which supplies apples to the Happy Apple’s California facility, notified the company that there may be a connection between a listeriosis outbreak and the apples supplied to that facility.
Symptoms Listeria food poisoning can take as long as 70 days to develop and include fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths or trigger pre-term delivery.
Happy Apple caramel apples are sold at grocery, discount and club stores including Safeway, Walmart and Sam’s Club, in single pack, three packs, four packs and eight packs. They were sold in the following 31 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin.
So far illnesses have been reported in 10 of those states. By state, cases counts are as follows: Arizona (4), California (1),Minnesota (4), Missouri (5), New Mexico (5), North Carolina (1), Texas (4), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (3).
Question, are these sick cases due to the Candy on the apples
or the Apples themselves?
Bidart Brothers and Pacific Coast Fruit are apple growers and processors and they have informed their customers (Happy Apple, California Snack Foods and Merb’s Candies) that their fruit is probably the source. The caramel is cooked at a very high temperature, which would kill any bacteria. And the caramel has a very high sugar content, which reduces available water for bacteria to grow. Any high sugar product is unlikely to be contaminated with bacteria. On update: some other ingredient may be responsible. The FDA just released information that they are investigating sticks, packaging, and other supplies and ingredients that may be common to the caramel apples manufacturers. Stay tuned.