The CDC is warning U.S. consumers not to eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples as they may be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria can cause a serious, life-threatening illness.
They say their warning includes plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided.
The CDC says although caramel apples are often a fall seasonal product, contaminated commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples may still be for sale at grocery stores and other retailers nationwide or may be in consumers' homes.
Five people have now died from Listeria infections that have been traced to caramel apples, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today. People in 10 states have become ill with Listeria in the outbreak.
Among the patients are three children who have meningitis, a severe consequence of infection with Listeria. Nine of the cases were in pregnant women or newborn infants, the CDC said.
The majority of the patients who were interviewed reported eating commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples before becoming ill.
So far, the 10 states with Listeria cases are: Arizona, California, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
If you have any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples in your home, throw them away. Place them in a closed plastic bag in a sealed trash can to prevent other people or animals from eating them.
The CDC says at this time, no illnesses related to this outbreak have been linked to apples that are not caramel-coated and not prepackaged or to caramel candy.
There is no evidence currently linking illnesses to homemade caramel apples. If you are unsure if a caramel apple is commercially produced or homemade, then you should not eat it.
The CDC says if you think you might have become ill with signs and symptoms of listeriosis after eating a commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apple, contact your health care provider.
Here is a delay between when a person becomes sick, and when the case is reported to public health authorities, the CDC noted. Therefore, any Listeria infection that has happened after Dec. 3 may have not been reported yet, the CDC said. The cases reported in this outbreak occurred between Oct. 17 and Nov. 27.
Listeria bacteria are found in soil and water, and can contaminate foods. Pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with compromised immune systems are most likely to become ill after eating foods contaminated with Listeria. According to the CDC, about 800 cases of Listeria infection are diagnosed each year in the United States.
A person infected with Listeria usually has fever and muscle aches, and may experience diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. The bacteria can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract and cause meningitis, which is the inflammation of the membranes covering the brain.
