Happy Apple Company issued a recall of Happy Apple Brand caramel apples, two days after a family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Safeway alleging their loved one died from a Listeria infection after eating a caramel apple. The company was notified by one of its suppliers, Bidart Brothers, that there may be a connection between an outbreak of Listeria infections (listeriosis) and the apples Bidart Brothers supplied to the Happy Apples California facility. The recalled Happy Apple caramel apples have a best use by date between August 25th and November 23rd, 2014. Happy Apple caramel apples are sold individually and in three packs, four packs and eight packs. The best-used-by date is on the front of the label. The recalled caramel apples were available for retail sale through … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Outbreak: History of Apple Recalls for Listeria
The recent outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to commercially prepared, prepackaged caramel apples in the U.S. may seem surprising. After all, caramel apples are hardly a food one thinks of in relation to food poisoning. But in the past two years, there have been a few recalls of apples products for this bacteria, so the outbreak is not unprecedented, although no illnesses were reported linked to the recalls below. Earlier this month, Giant Eagle recalled their Apple Pistachio Salad, plain and with chicken because they may have contained fresh cut Gala red apples recalled by Del Monte Fresh Produce for possible Listeria contamination. The Del Monte recall was for apple slices, apple slices with dip, apples with cheese, snack packs, pineapple medley, apples with grapes and cheese, … [Read more...]
Safeway Sued in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Linked to Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak
The family of an 81-year-old California woman who died after contracting listeriosis from a caramel apple has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Safeway grocery stores. Shirlee Jean Frey purchased the tainted treat from a Safeway store just before Halloween and began to feel illl the first week of November. Symptoms of a Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Among pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn baby. Symptoms begin from 3 to 70 days after eating food contaminated with the bacteria. In early November, Frey fell and hit her head. She was airlifted to a hospital for surgery and remained there for a week, according to the … [Read more...]
Listeriosis Caramel Apples Outbreak, CDC Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated the listeriosis outbreak linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples. As of December 22, 2014, 29 people in 10 states are sick. The new illness is someone in Wisconsin. All of the 29 people sickened in this outbreak have been hospitalized. There have been five deaths. No official recall has been issued, although some brands of caramel apples have been removed from store shelves. The government recommends that U.S. consumers do not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as the fancier varieties that include nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings. These products have a shelf life of more than a month. Some of these products may still be in … [Read more...]
Advice to Consumers About Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing advice to consumers about the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to commercially produced caramel apples. Listeria can cause a serious, life-threatening illness. The government is recommending that U.S. consumers not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain apples as well as those with additional nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings until further notice. These products are usually made and sold in the fall, but they may be still be for sale in grocery stores and may be in consumers' homes since they have a shelf life of more than a month. If you have any of these products in your home, discard them immediately in a closed container so other people and animals can't eat them. … [Read more...]
Listeria Meningitis Deepens Threat of Caramel Apple Outbreak
Federal officials have taken special note of Listeria meningitis illnesses associated with a closely watched outbreak of listeriosis associated with consumption of pre-packaged, commercially produced caramel apples. Outbreak analysis by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that three otherwise healthy children aged 5 to 15 contracted invasive meningitis from the type of Listeria associated with the outbreak. Depending on the severity of these cases, the families of these children likely have been immersed in critical care situations because meningitis infects a person's central nervous system. The more common type of illness from Listeria monocytogenes -- also deadly -- is infection of a person's bloodstream. Listeria meningitis is severe. While most people with … [Read more...]
Half of Those Sickened in Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak are Over 64
Half of those sickened in the 10-state Listeria outbreak linked to caramel apples are over the age of 64. People in this age group are among those at highest risk for Listeria infections. Others in this high-risk group include pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems. Of the 28 people sickened in this outbreak, nine cases were related to pregnancies including illness in babies who were born prematurely because their mothers ate the contaminated apples while pregnant. Of the cases not related to pregnancy, those sickened ranged in age from 7 to 92. Two thirds of them were male. The ages of case patients by state has not been releases, except for Minnesota, which was first to announce the outbreak. In Minnesota, where all four case patients were between the ages of … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak Hits Minnesota Hard
The caramel apple Listeria outbreak has hit Minnesota hard. Four people, all adults ages 59-90, were sickened and two of them died. This outbreak is the largest Listeria outbreak since the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak of 2011, one of the largest food poisoning outbreaks of any kind in U.S. history. That 28-state outbreak sickened 147 people and killed 33. Minnesota was not among the states included in that outbreak. Of the five multi-state Listeria outbreaks that occurred between cantaloupe and caramel apples, Minnesota reported cases in just one, the Crave Brothers cheese outbreak of 2013. That outbreak sickened six people in five states and one person died. Minnesota reported two of the cases, including the fatality, in that outbreak. In this outbreak, three of the Minnesotans … [Read more...]
