Three companies have issued voluntary recalls of prepackaged caramel apples after a listeria outbreak has been linked to infections in 14 states. The CDC and the FDA are still working to identify the original source.
The impacted companies include the Happy Apple Company, California Snack Foods and Merb’s Candies. Bidart Brothers, an apple-packaging company, may also be linked to the outbreak.
Listeria is a bacterial infection that can cause gastrointestinal distress and can be fatal to those with compromised immune systems.
As of Dec. 30, public health officials confirmed that a total of 32 people have been infected with the outbreak strain. Cases have been reported from 11 states including Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota and Missouri.
