Listeria outbreak traced to California apple supplier
Federal health officials believe they've traced the source of a deadly listeria outbreak in caramel apples to an apple supplier in California.
The Minnesota Department of Health initially reported the outbreak with four cases linked to caramel apples in the state. Two of those people died. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this weekend 32 people from 11 states have fallen ill, and seven of them have died.
Bidart Brothers has since recalled its 2014 crop of Granny Smith and Gala apples. The apples have been sold under various brand names, and some without brand names at all. The company says consumers should check the origin of any apples they have, particularly pre-packaged caramel apples.
The brands listed below were produced in Minnesota last year using Bidart Brothers apples. The listed brands are no longer available in stores but consumers with these caramel apples in their household should throw them away.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
• Aamodt's caramel apples
• Abdallah caramel apples
• Angeli Foods caramel apples
• Candy Jar caramel apples
• Carnival caramel apples
• Celebration caramel apples
• Circle K caramel apples
• Finnottes caramel apples
• Grandma Bev's caramel apples
• Jerry's Foods caramel apples
• Karamel King caramel apples
• Kowalski's Markets caramel apples
• Kitchen Cravings caramel apples
• Lunds & Byerly's caramel apples
• Supermom's caramel apples
• Wescott caramel apples
The health department says listeria usually affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, listeriosis infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.