Warning regarding commercial caramel apples this holiday
Once the fall season hits, caramel apples start hitting store shelves and children and adults everywhere indulge in this holiday favorite. But if you’re going to have a caramel apple this year you might want to make your own. People in ten states have become ill after ingesting caramel apples, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says contaminated products are likely still out there. SEE ALSO: Raw milk and poultry-related food poisoning on the rise At least 3 people have died from caramel apple-related Listeria infection and almost 30 have been hospitalized. Children and pregnant women are among those affected, and the outbreak has currently been documented in Arizona, California, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. “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,” states the CDC. “Although limited information is currently available about the specific brand(s) of commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples consumed, the finding that most of the ill people reported consuming these apples suggests that these Listeria infections are likely related to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples.” Listeria is a food-borne bacterial infection typically associated with dairy products and improperly handled processed meat. The Mayo Clinic indicates Listeria is particularly dangerous because it can survive refrigeration and even freezing. While most healthy people don’t become ill from Listeria, children, pregnant woman and people with compromised immune systems can become seriously ill. Three invasive illnesses (meningitis) were among otherwise healthy children aged 515 years, according to the report. Meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes around the spinal cord and the brain is considered a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate care and antibiotic treatment. SEE ALSO: Food safety guidelines: How to stay safe from food poisoning “Out of an abundance of caution, CDC recommends that U.S. consumers not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided,” said the agency. “These products could have a shelf life of more than one month.”The post Warning regarding commercial caramel apples this holiday appeared first on Voxxi.
Once the fall season hits, caramel apples start hitting store shelves and children and adults everywhere indulge in this holiday favorite. But if you’re going to have a caramel apple this year you might want to make your own. People in ten states have become ill after ingesting caramel apples, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says contaminated products are likely still out there.
SEE ALSO: Raw milk and poultry-related food poisoning on the rise
At least 3 people have died from caramel apple-related Listeria infection and almost 30 have been hospitalized. Children and pregnant women are among those affected, and the outbreak has currently been documented in Arizona, California, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
“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,” states the CDC. “Although limited information is currently available about the specific brand(s) of commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples consumed, the finding that most of the ill people reported consuming these apples suggests that these Listeria infections are likely related to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples.”
Listeria is a food-borne bacterial infection typically associated with dairy products and improperly handled processed meat. The Mayo Clinic indicates Listeria is particularly dangerous because it can survive refrigeration and even freezing. While most healthy people don’t become ill from Listeria, children, pregnant woman and people with compromised immune systems can become seriously ill.
Three invasive illnesses (meningitis) were among otherwise healthy children aged 515 years, according to the report. Meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes around the spinal cord and the brain is considered a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate care and antibiotic treatment.
SEE ALSO: Food safety guidelines: How to stay safe from food poisoning
“Out of an abundance of caution, CDC recommends that U.S. consumers not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided,” said the agency. “These products could have a shelf life of more than one month.”
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The post Warning regarding commercial caramel apples this holiday appeared first on Voxxi.
