Vietnam orders recall of US-imported apples tainted with listeria

Vietnam orders recall of US-imported apples tainted with listeria

The Vietnamese food safety watchdog on Tuesday ordered fruit importers to recall apple and caramel apple products, if any, that have poisoned or killed several people in the U.S. over the last month.

The Vietnam Food Administration (VFA) has received a warning about listeria-tainted apples and caramel apples from the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), according to an announcement posted on its website.

INFOSAN said four companies in the U.S. have recalled the contaminated products after the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, which causes listeriosis, was found in apples processed at a facility in Shafter, California.

Listeriosis infection primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune symptoms, according to Reuters.

It can be fatal, with symptoms including fever, severe headache, muscle aches, confusion, convulsions, nausea and a stiff neck, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The VFA thus ordered a review of fruits imported to the Southeast Asian country and a recall of those apples tainted with the bacterium, if any.

The food watchdog will also closely watch food poisoning cases with symptoms similar to those caused by the listeria outbreak to take timely control and adopt appropriate prevention solutions, it added.

On January 6, Granny Smith and Gala apples were recalled by Bidart Bros after they were found linked to listeriosis infection.

Three companies, including Lochirco Fruit & Produce (Washington, Missouri), California Snack Foods (El Monte, California), and Sugar Daddy LTD (St. Louis, Missouri), later also recalled their caramel-coated apples for the same reason.

As of January 10, 32 cases of listeriosis have been detected in 11 states in the U.S., with 31 people hospitalized and seven killed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Ten illnesses were pregnancy-related (occurred in a pregnant woman or her newborn infant), with one resulting in a fetal loss, the CDC noted.

Twenty five, or 89 percent, of the 28 sick people interviewed by the CDC reported that they had eaten commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples before becoming ill.

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