The Minnesota Department of Agriculture just released a list of caramel apple brand names associated with the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is ongoing in 11 states. The apples were produced using produce from Bidart Brothers Apple Packing of Shafter, California. Bidart Brothers just recalled all of their Gala and Granny Smith apples produced in 2014 after Listeria monocytogenes was found in their packing plant. The recalled brands include Aamodt's, Abdallah, Angeli Foods, Candy Jar, Carnival, Celebration, Circle K, Finnottes, Grandma Bev's, Jerry's Foods, Karamel King, Kowalski's Markets, Kitchen Cravings, Lunds & Byerly's, Supermom's, and Wescott. These caramel apple brands were sold in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The products were plain, and … [Read more...]
Caramel Apples Linked to Listeria Outbreak Sold at Smith’s in New Mexico
Caramel apples linked to the 11-state Listeria outbreak were sold at Smith's Food and Drug Stores in New Mexico, according to information contained in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a mother and her newborn baby who were both sickened. According to the complaint, Cathy Jones was pregnant in October 2014 when she contracted a Listeria infection after eating a caramel apple purchased from a Smith’s store at 4016 Louisiana Boulevard Northeast, Albuquerque. A few weeks later, sick with Listeria symptoms, she sought medical attention at Lovelace Hospital where she delivered her baby several months prematurely. The baby, who also had a Listeria infection, spent more than four weeks in a neo-natal intensive care unit. New Mexico has five of the 32 cases associated with this outbreak. At least … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Listeria Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of NM Mother and Newborn Baby
A lawsuit stemming from the caramel apple Listeria outbreak has been filed on behalf of a New Mexico woman and her newborn son. The complaint names as defendants apple supplier Bidart Brothers Apple Packing Inc. of Shafter, Calif. and retailer Smith’s Food & Drug Centers Inc., of Delaware which operates stores in New Mexico. The law firm Pritzker Hageman filed the suit January 09, 2015 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. The case number is 1:15-CV-00019-KBM-SMV local co-counsel is J. Edward Hollington of Albuquerque. According to the complaint, a family member of the plaintiff, Cathy Jones, purchased several prepackaged, commercially prepared caramel apples from a Smith’s store at 4016 Louisiana Boulevard Northeast, Albuquerque in late October, 2014. Ms. Jones, who … [Read more...]
Listeria at Bidart Packing Plant Triggers Huge Apple Recall
Listeria found at Bidart Brothers packing plant in Shafter, Calif. has triggered a recall for all Granny Smith and Gala apples packed at the facility during 2014. Consumers should not eat the recalled apples as they risk serious illness if they do. These apples are linked to an 11-state Listeria outbreak that has sickened 32 people, killing six of them. The apples were sold under a number of brand names including Granny's Best and Big B. Consumers who have purchased Granny Smith or Gala apples recently and are not sure of the brand names should check with the store where they purchased them to see if they came from Bidart. Up until now, consumers have been warned only about Bidart apples used to make caramel apples. This recall is for all Granny Smith and Gala apples packed at the … [Read more...]
Bidart Listeria Recall in Canada Expands to Include Full Year of Gala Apples
Bidart Brothers has expanded its apple recall for Listeria to include a second variety, Gala, in Canada, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The recall is for all Gala apples produced in 2014. The initial recall, issued December 24, 2014, was for Granny Smith apples produced during 2014. Consumers, retailers, restaurants and institutions should not eat or use the recalled products which may have been sold under other brand names. Anyone with questions about whether apples they purchased are included in the recall should contact the location where they were purchased. Bidart Brothers apples have been linked to a Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 32 people in the U.S. Two people in Canada have been sickened by the same strain. One case is in Ontario, and the … [Read more...]
Missouri Caramel Apple Listeria Probe Intensifies
In Missouri, where Listeria in caramel apples has sickened five people, an investigation into the source of the outbreak has intensified. State health officials are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to discover the source of the problem and the scope of distribution of the caramel apples. So far, the list of stores in Missouri that sold prepackaged, commercially prepared caramel apples that may have been contaminated with Listeria includes Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger, and Merb’s Candies. None of these stores is still selling the recalled caramel apples, but symptoms of a Listeria infection, which include fever, stiff neck, muscle aches and gastrointestinal issues, can take as long as 70 days to develop. All … [Read more...]
Listeria Can Grow in Freezer
The ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples has brought this bacteria into the spotlight. At least 32 people are sickened; 31 have been hospitalized, six people have died, and three children have Listeria meningitis. There are many things we don't know about this pathogen, but we do know it's a tricky little bug. Listeria is present in the environment and can live in the intestines of animals, birds, and people without causing illness. It can also have a long incubation period, up to 70 days, from the time of exposure to when symptoms first appear. But the trickiest thing about Listeria monocytogenes is that it can grow at refrigerator and freezer temperatures which are the traditional preservation methods used for … [Read more...]
Brands in Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak: Happy Apple, Kroger, Karm’l Dapple, Merb’s Candies, Carnival, Kitchen Cravings
The brands of commercially prepared, prepackaged caramel apples involved in the multistate caramel apple Listeria monocytogenes outbreak as of January 6, 2014 include Happy Apple, Kroger, California Snack Foods Karm'l Dapple, Merb's Candies, Carnival, and Kitchen Cravings. The first four brands have been recalled; the second two were mentioned in the Minnesota Department of Health original outbreak press release. Thirty-two people have been sickened in this outbreak, 31 of those patients have been hospitalized. There have been six deaths related to this outbreak, and ten illnesses relating to a pregnancy. In addition, three children have developed serious complications. Attorney Fred Pritzker, who represents clients sickened by this bacteria, said, "This outbreak is already an absolute … [Read more...]
Happy Apple Expands Recall to Include Kroger Caramel Apples
Happy Apple Company is expanding their recall of caramel apples to include Kroger brand caramel apples. These apples are associated with the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 32 people in 11 states and killed six. Three children have developed Listeria meningitis as a result of their illnesses. The Kroger apples have a best use by date between September 15 and November 18, 2014 and were sold in single packs and three packs. They were distributed to retailers in Arizona, Alaska, Kansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. You can see pictures of product labels at the FDA web site. Bidart Brothers, one of Happy Apple's suppliers, recently told the company that there may be a connection between the … [Read more...]
Minnesota’s Key Role in Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak
Minnesota has played a key role in the investigation of the caramel apple Listeria outbreak. The 11-state outbreak, which has sickened 32 people killing six of them, includes four Minnesotans, two of whom died. Minnesota health officials were the first to identify brand names of caramel apples linked to the outbreak and make public the stores where they were sold. Those efforts have helped to unravel the mystery of a first-of-its-kind outbreak. Several weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered the outbreak through PulseNet, a national subtyping network of public health agencies that its coordinates. When patients are diagnosed with a foodborne bacterial infection, state health departments perform a DNA “fingerprinting” test, called pulsed-field gel … [Read more...]
