Listeria-Infected Caramel Apple Recall Expands
By Laurel Maloy, contributing writer, Food Online
Just two days after releasing the story on Listeria-infected caramel apples, the recall has expanded as the investigation continues
On December 22, Food Online published an article attributing Listeria-infected caramel apples to several deaths. At that time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had issued a precautionary warning for prepackaged caramel apples. On December 24, Happy Apple, a Washington, MO company, announced a recall of its Happy Brand Caramel Apples due to possible listeria contamination. Then, on December 27, California Snack Foods issued a recall of its Karm’l Dapples brand caramel apples. Also involved in the expanded recall is Pacific Coast Fruit, a distributor for Happy Apple brands.
Happy Apples brand caramel apples with a “Best Use-by Date” between August 25 and November 23 have been formally recalled. Sold in single-packs, three-packs, four-packs, and eight-packs, the use-by date will be printed on the front of the label. The exact number of packages involved has not been determined. However, they were distributed to retailers in 31 states: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, WA, and WI.
The products were distributed to club, discount, and grocery stores, and were most often available in the produce section. Happy Apple states that due to its normal, seasonal shutdown the end of October, these products are no longer available. Happy Apple’s recall update mentions a notice of recall sent to its CA facility by a supplier, Bidart Brothers, prompting this voluntary recall, issued out of an abundance of caution. Happy Apple’s orchards are situated in Marthasville, MO, with caramel apple plants located in CA and MO. Happy Apple can be contacted at (800) 527-7532 during normal business hours Mon through Fri or by email at customercare@happyapples.com.
The candy apple products being recalled by California Snack Foods were sold as early as August 15 and as late as November 28 of this year. These particular caramel apples are sold in single- and triple-packs in club-type stores, discount stores, and grocery stores. They were distributed to an undisclosed number of retailers in five states: AZ, CA, NV, TX, and UT. The various Karm’l Dapple labels can be seen here. According to the FDA Press Release the investigation is ongoing and there have been no reported illnesses. Concerned consumers may contact the company at (800) 966-5501 during normal business hours Monday thru Friday, or via email at info@californiasnackfoods.com.
Now, however; the possible source for the contamination has been identified by Happy Apple as Bidart Brothers. No formal recall has been published through the FDA, though the establishment sent out a notification to Happy Apple that its apples may be linked to the outbreak. Bidart Brothers, however, appears to be a packer/supplier, not a grower. Further investigation will be required to determine if the contamination occurred at Bidart Brothers or somewhere else along the supply chain. The investigation is problematic, at best, when considering the period of time it took from production to linking the outbreaks. The prepackaged, caramel apples, distributed in Aug through Oct, were not linked to an outbreak until October 15. Considering Happy Apple stopped production at the end of October, Listeria, with its 70 day incubation period, could still occur in consumers through January, 2015. A link has also not been established between this particular Listeria outbreak and Del Monte’s Gala apple recall, though the possibility must be considered.
Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most-problematic and expensive food-borne pathogens. Its hospitalization and mortality rates are high, the incubation period is extensive, and its prolific nature makes it hard to control. The only sensible step producers can take is to invest in on-shift Listeria detection methods. This recall, so far, has affected at least four companies. Though relatively small in the scheme of things, these four companies’ brands are now at risk, associated with numerous illnesses, hospitalizations, and death. If they will survive is yet to be seen, just as the final outcome of the investigation is yet to be determined. Is this a risk your brand is willing to take?