US Listeria Outbreak: Caramel Apples -5 dead, dozens sick

[debatethis]

Five people have died and 21 others have been hospitalized in a listeria outbreak linked to caramel apples, federal health officials said today.

A total of 28 people infected with listeria have been reported from 10 states, according to a statement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Eleven of the cases are in the Midwest: five in Missouri, four in Minnesota and two in Wisconsin.
CDC: Listeriosis outbreak map
Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Commercially Produced, Prepackaged Caramel Apples. (CDC)

The CDC warned consumers not to eat any pre-packaged, commercially-produced caramel apples, including those with other toppings such as nuts, chocolate or sprinkles, until more information is available. A recall, however, has not been issued as of Friday afternoon.
cComments

@paytonthecat Good one.
tbirdal
at 1:15 PM December 19, 2014

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Of the 28 victims, 26 were hospitalized and five of those people died, the CDC said, adding that listeriosis contributed to at least four of the deaths. Nine of the cases involved a pregnant woman or her newborn infant and three were among otherwise healthy children aged 5 to 15 years, the CDC said. According to the studies, 83% of the ill people interviewed reported eating commercially produced prepackaged caramel apples.

Those affected became ill between Oct. 17 and Nov. 27, the CDC said, adding that cases after Dec. 3 might not yet be reported.

Listeriosis is an infection that primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune symptoms. Symptoms, which begin anywhere from three to 70 days after consuming the bacteria, include fever, muscle aches, headache, confusion and convulsions.

No illnesses related to the outbreak have been linked to apples that are not caramel-coated and are not prepackaged, or to caramel candy, the CDC said.

The states include Missouri and New Mexico, which each had five cases; Minnesota, Texas and Arizona, with four cases each; Wisconsin, with two cases; and Washington, California, Utah and North Carolina, with one case each.

In Minnesota, those who fell ill bought caramel apples from Supervalu Inc's Cub Foods, Kwik Trip and Mike's Discount Foods, which carried Carnival brand and Kitchen Cravings brand apples, state health officials said. These two brands are no longer being sold there, but health officials are concerned that people who bought them may still have them in their homes.

Reuters and Tribune Content Agency
www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/chi-listeria-caramel-apples-20141219-story.html

[sangria]

26 of 28 hospitalized? Damn.

[Deleted]

Those are probably the only ones who reported--if it were a minor case, it probably wouldn't be submitted as listeria.

Glad I didn't eat any carmel apples.

[KateAggie]

I love caramel apples. I thought I only had to worry about lunch meat.

I have caramel sauce in my fridge. I need to chunk it, right?

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2014 17:21:42 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

I love caramel apples. I thought I only had to worry about lunch meat.

I have caramel sauce in my fridge. I need to chunk it, right?

No. There's no reason to chuck it. Listeria pops up on things - cantelope, spinach, lunch meat. You can't avoid it entirely unless you avoid... food.

[emisi]

Dec 19, 2014 17:21:42 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

I love caramel apples. I thought I only had to worry about lunch meat.

I have caramel sauce in my fridge. I need to chunk it, right?

No, don't chuck it.  Frankly, the bacteria was probably on the apples, not in the caramel.  It's not uncommon to find it on unwashed produce.

[meshaliuknits]

Dec 19, 2014 17:21:42 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

I have caramel sauce in my fridge. I need to chunk it, right?

Send it to me. If I don't get sick I will send back what's left.




There will be nothing left.