A listeria outbreak linked to pre-packaged caramel apples has killed five people according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-six people have been hospitalized from the illness, during the multi-state outbreak.
Listeriosis mostly affects infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. The infection can be life-threatening. Symptoms include fever, headaches, convulsions and confusion. These symptoms can appear within three days of being infected with the bacteria, or they can take two months or longer to manifest themselves.
According to the CDC, the victims who have been infected became ill in October and November of this year. December cases may still be reported. People in ten states have been affected so far, with Missouri and New Mexico recording the most cases at five each.
All of the cases have been linked to pre-packaged, commercially sold, caramel apples. No cases have been linked to apples that are not caramel coated. Also, caramel candy has not been linked to the outbreak. Carnavel brand and Kitchen Cravings brand caramel apples were responsible for the illnesses in Minnesota. Those brands have since been pulled from the shelves.
Health officials are taking steps to protect public safety. The listeria outbreak should not be cause for panic. However, it should be noted that the listeria outbreak has now claimed more lives in America than ebola has this year. Since the election has past, Republicans probably will not whip up hysteria and demand that Obama appoint a caramel apple czar. The outbreak does however, underscore that Americans are often disproportionately afraid of threats that generate lots of media coverage like international terrorism and ebola, while less publicized risks are actually more deadly.
Public health officials have already responded to the outbreak and taken steps to protect consumers. However, individuals should take precautions like disposing of commercially packaged caramel coated apples purchased earlier this fall.
Keith Brekhus
Keith Brekhus is a longtime political activist who currently resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He has a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was a Green Party candidate for Congress in 2002. His most recent political job was working as a Field Organizer in Arizona’s White Mountains, in support of Democratic Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick’s successful 2014 re-election campaign.
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