Imported Apples - Beware

[ravip]

I saw an article about some infected apples that could cause a serious health issue, hence this post.

The FDA, CDC and state and local officials are investigating an outbreak of listeriosis linked to commercially-produced, prepackaged whole caramel apples

http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm427573.htm#problem

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm429689.htm

[lopburi3]

This is old news and applies to a lot more than caramel apples - and believe Thailand has not recalled as there inspection did not find any problems. Be safe and do not eat without washing any apples. Most Thai would naturally do so - some of us foreigners not so much so as used to clean supermarket item. It is contamination of outside skin from my understanding.

[ravip]

This is old news and applies to a lot more than caramel apples - and believe Thailand has not recalled as there inspection did not find any problems. Be safe and do not eat without washing any apples. Most Thai would naturally do so - some of us foreigners not so much so as used to clean supermarket item. It is contamination of outside skin from my understanding.

Would washing take off this contamination?

Then it's nothing to worry about and recall the product world-wide.

On January 8, 2015, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of the Listeria monocytogenes isolated from environmental samples collected at Bidart Bros. confirmed that the PFGE patterns, or DNA fingerprints, of the pathogen matched the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from people affected by the outbreak. Listeria monocytogenes matching the outbreak strains, by PFGE type, also was isolated from samples of Bidart Bros. whole apples collected along the distribution chain by FDA and state investigators in December 2014.

[ravip]

Caramel Apples: Warning - Illnesses, Including Deaths, Linked to Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

RECOMMENDATIONS: Health professionals should inform patients to not eat commercially-produced, prepackaged whole caramel apples, including those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided. Consumers should throw away any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples that they may have in their homes until more specific guidance can be provided.

Anyone who experiences fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, or develops fever and chills after eating commercially-produced, prepackaged caramel apples should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about any history of eating those caramel apples.

Edit

Whats all this panic about?

Impossible to understand.

Edited February 3, 2015 by ravip

[h90]

This is old news and applies to a lot more than caramel apples - and believe Thailand has not recalled as there inspection did not find any problems. Be safe and do not eat without washing any apples. Most Thai would naturally do so - some of us foreigners not so much so as used to clean supermarket item. It is contamination of outside skin from my understanding.

Well I wouldn't trust the Thai inspection 100 %.

Not saying that I am sure it isn't good, but trust them with my life?

[lopburi3]

AFAIK there are no Caramel apples imported and washing would not be an option so they should not be here period. But two other types of normal apples were also on recall and they are imported here. It was major news on Thai media. It was these apple containers which FDA claimed were inspected so did not need to be recalled from markets. Did not follow up news - was forbidden to buy apples - so that may have changed upon second thought.