Recall: Apple Company Pulls Products Due to Listeria Threat

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black is alerting Georgians to the recall of select lots of caramel apples produced by Merb's Candies of St. Louis, Mo.

The company has been working with the US Food and Drug Administration in its investigation of the outbreak of listeriosis, which has been associated with caramel apples. The company received notice from one of its suppliers that there may be a connection between this outbreak and the apples it supplied to Merb's Candies.

The apples may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria is an organism that cancause foodborne illness in a person that eats an item contaminated with it. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea. The illness primarily affects pregnant women and adults with weakened immune systems. Most healthy adults and children rarely become seriously ill. 
 
The affected products are as follows:

• Bionic Apples sold between Sept. 8 and Nov. 25, 2014
• Double Dipped Apples sold between Sept. 8 and Nov. 25, 2014

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating illnesses associated with this recall.

Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will be checking to make sure the recalled products are removed from sale. Consumers who purchased any pre-packaged caramel apples are advised not to eat them, but to return it to the store of purchase or dispose of it per instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Questions about this recall?

Consumers  who purchased this product can contact Merb's Candies at 314-832-7206 or via email at customercare.merbscandies@gmail.com Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

To view a comprehensive list of food and feed recalls affecting Georgia, visit our Food Safety Division recall website. If this recall expands or additional details become available in the future, the website will provide the most up-to-date information.