A recent outbreak of listeria has been traced to prepackaged caramel apples, sickening at least 24 persons and resulting in four deaths in 10 states.
Health officials are warning consumers to avoid these products until a full investigation by the CDC reveals the source of the outbreak.
According to the CDC, there have been 28 cases of people affected, with at least 26 hospitalized. There have been five reported deaths from the outbreak, of which four have been directly linked to listeria.
Nearly 83 percent of ill persons who provided information to the CDC stated that they had eaten the prepackaged caramel apples prior to becoming ill. It is unclear which brands are affected and how the contamination actually occurred. However, the CDC has made it clear that there is no reason to stop eating caramel or apples that have not been prepackaged.
The outbreak began around mid-October extending into Halloween, which is the time when the confections are typically purchased. The commercially produced and packaged item can have a shelf life of up to 30 days, so it is possible that some may still be in stores with low turn over of products.
Listeria is a foodborne illness which can have a devastating effect on the elderly, pregnant women, infants, as well as those whose immune systems are compromised, especially those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes. In these persons, it could lead to meningitis, a potentially fatal illness affecting the brain and the central nervous system.
Symptoms of listeria, a bacterial illness, can be nonspecific, and may include nausea, diarrhea, muscle aches, headache, malaise and fever. The disease typically does not lead to serious infection in healthy persons, and can successfully be treated with antibiotics if detected early in its course.
One pitfall is that listeria can mimic the flu, so persons may not seek medical treatment, believing that the illness will just runs its course. However, if there is a recent history of consumption of caramel apples along with flu-like symptoms, then persons should contact their medical provider, or seek care in an emergency department.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2014/12/20/caramel-apples-linked-to-recent-listeria-outbreak/
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