WASHINGTON, Mo. -- Happy Apples Co. on December 24 issued a voluntary recall of Happy Apple Brand caramel apples with a best use by date between Aug. 25 and Nov. 23, 2014, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Happy Apple caramel apples are sold in single packs, three packs, four packs and eight packs and each package will have a best use by date on the front of the label.
They were available for retail sale and were distributed to retailers in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
"We have been working with the Food & Drug Administration in their investigation of the current outbreak of Listeriosis which has been associated with caramel apples," the Washington, Mo.-based company said in its recall notice. "We recently received notice from Bidart Brothers, one of our apple suppliers to our California facility that there may be a connection between this outbreak and the apples that they supplied to that facility.
"As has been reported in the news, the Center for Disease Control has noted 29 illnesses in 10 states [as well as five deaths] linked to the outbreak, and they have advised consumers not to eat commercially produced, pre-packaged caramel apples until more is known.
"We ceased our operations at the end of October as part of our normal, seasonal shutdown, and the caramel apples produced are no longer available in stores, however, out of an abundance of caution and concern for consumer safety, we are recommending that consumers follow the advice of the CDC and remove any caramel apples you may have in storage and dispose of them in a secure container to avoid potential contamination in animals."
Separately, Del Monte Fresh Produce NA Inc., Coral Gables, Fla., has amended its press release of Dec. 10, 2014 to reflect more accurate product description and other information about its voluntary recall of fresh-cut fruit containing gala red apples because these apples have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. It added Apples & Grapes Tray with Caramel Apple Dip to the recall list.
Although no illnesses have been reported to date connected to this specific product, Del Monte Fresh voluntarily decided to recall the potentially affected lot.
A total of 3,051 consumer packages containing fresh-cut red apples were distributed to Giant Eagle, Amazon Fresh, Sunoco, Peter's Fruit, Wegmans, Sheetz and 7-Eleven and have "Best If Enjoyed By" dates of 12/3/14, 12/6/14, 12/7/14 and 12/8/14. The fresh -red apples have a red color skin. The recalled fresh cut fruit packages containing red apples were distributed for sale in clear plastic containers.
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