Prepackaged Caramel Apples Lead to 5 Deaths and Two Dozen People Hospitalized

Federal public health officials are recommending that U.S. consumers do not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings after prepackaged caramel apples were linked to five deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control is collaborating with public health officials in several states and with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenesinfections (listeriosis) linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples. Listeria can cause a serious, life-threatening illness.

The information CDC has at this time indicates that commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples may be contaminated with Listeria and may be causing this outbreak. Although caramel apples are often a fall seasonal product, contaminated commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples may still be for sale at grocery stores and other retailers nationwide or may be in consumers’ homes.

Two of the deaths were in Minnesota and one was in Texas, according to the CDC. The agency was not able to say where the other two deaths occurred.

• As of Dec. 18, 2014, a total of 28 people infected with the outbreak strains ofListeria monocytogenes have been reported from 10 states.
• 26 ill people have been hospitalized. Among the 26 people hospitalized, five deaths have been reported. Listeriosis contributed to at least four of these deaths.
• Nine illnesses were pregnancy-related (occurred in a pregnant woman or her newborn infant).
• Three invasive illnesses (meningitis) were among otherwise healthy children aged 5–15 years.
• To date, 15 (83 percent) of the 18 ill people interviewed reported eating commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples before becoming ill.
• 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.
• CDC Investigators are working quickly to determine specific brands or types of commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples that may be linked to illnesses and to identify the source of contamination.
• This CDC investigation is rapidly evolving, and new information will be provided as it becomes available.

The CDC said the illnesses also occurred in Arizona, California, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

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