--- title: "Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak Update" date: 2015-02-13T05:29:41-08:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/caramel-apple-listeria-outbreak-update" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / # Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin Caramel Apple Listeria Outbreak Update CDC collaborated with public health officials in several states and with the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)](http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm427573.htm "Link to External Web Site") to investigate an outbreak of *Listeria* *monocytogenes* infections (listeriosis). Joint investigation efforts indicated that commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples made from Bidart Bros. apples were the likely source of this outbreak. Public health investigators used the [PulseNet](http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/index.html) system to identify illnesses that were part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA “fingerprinting” is performed on *Listeria* bacteria isolated from ill people using techniques called [pulsed-field gel electrophoresis](http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/pathogens/pfge.html) (PFGE) and [whole genome sequencing](http://www.cdc.gov/amd/) (WGS). The 35 ill people included in this outbreak investigation were reported from 12 states: Arizona (5), California (3), Colorado (1), Minnesota (4), Missouri (5), Nevada (1), New Mexico (6), North Carolina (1), Texas (4), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (3). Illness onset dates ranged from October 17, 2014, to January 6, 2015. Eleven illnesses were associated with a pregnancy (occurred in a pregnant woman or her newborn infant). One fetal loss was reported. Among people whose illnesses were not associated with a pregnancy, ages ranged from 7 to 92 years, with a median age of 62 years, and 33% were female. Three invasive illnesses (meningitis) occurred among otherwise healthy children aged 5–15 years. Thirty-four people were hospitalized, and listeriosis contributed to at least three of the seven deaths reported. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) identified [two cases of listeriosis](http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/phn-asp/2014/listeria-eng.php "Link to External Web Site") in Canada with the same PFGE patterns as those seen in the U.S. outbreak. More detailed testing using WGS showed that the isolate from only one of the two cases was genetically related to the U.S. outbreak. That person reported eating a caramel apple. On January 6, 2015, Bidart Bros. of Bakersfield, California, [voluntarily recalled](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm429689.htm "Link to External Web Site") Granny Smith and Gala apples because environmental testing revealed contamination with *Listeria monocytogenes* at the firm’s apple-packing facility. The recall included all Granny Smith and Gala apples shipped from its Shafter, California, packing facility in 2014. On January 8, 2015, FDA laboratory analyses using PFGE showed that environmental *Listeria* isolates from the Bidart Bros. facility were indistinguishable from the outbreak strains. On January 18, 2015, WGS found that these isolates were highly related to the outbreak strains. In addition, WGS showed that *Listeria* isolates from whole apples produced by Bidart Bros., collected along the distribution chain, also were highly related to the outbreak strains. Three firms that produce caramel apples issued voluntary recalls after receiving notice from Bidart Bros. that there may be a connection between Bidart Bros. apples and this listeriosis outbreak. On December 24, 2014, Happy Apple Company of Washington, Missouri, [voluntarily recalled Happy Apples brand caramel apples](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm428106.htm "Link to External Web Site") with a best use by date between August 25 and November 23, 2014. On December 31, 2014, Happy Apple Company [expanded the recall](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm428852.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery "Link to External Web Site") to include Kroger brand caramel apples produced by Happy Apple Company with a best use by date between September 15 and November 18, 2014. On December 27, 2014, California Snack Foods [voluntarily recalled Karm’l Dapple brand caramel apples](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm428157.htm "Link to External Web Site") with a best use by date between August 15 and November 28, 2014. On December 29, 2014, Merb’s Candies of St. Louis, Missouri issued [a voluntary recall of Merb’s Candies Bionic Apples and Double Dipped Apples](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm428310.htm "Link to External Web Site") that would have been available from September 8 through November 25, 2014. ### Other Listeria Lawsuits [Clover Hill Dairy Cheese sickens 12 with Listeria - 1 Death](https://marlerclark.com/clover-hill-dairy-cheese-sickens-8-with-listeria) [70 Sickened by Salmonella Cantaloupe](https://marlerclark.com/70-sickened-by-salmonella-cantaloupe) [Headcheese linked to Listeria illnesses in Illinois](https://marlerclark.com/headcheese-linked-to-listeria-illnesses-in-illinois) [Kroger and Walmart Pasta Listeria Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/kroger-and-walmart-pasta-listeria-outbreak) [Listeria Outbreak linked to Kroger and Walmart Chicken Fettuccine](https://marlerclark.com/listeria-outbreak-linked-to-kroger-and-walmart-chicken-fettuccine) [Fresh & Ready Foods linked to 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [Listeria Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/about-listeria) What is Listeria and how does it cause food poisoning? Listeria is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that is ubiquitous and can grow under either anaerobic (without oxygen) or aerobic (with... ###### [The Incidence of Listeria Infections](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/the-incidence-of-listeria-infections) How common are Listeria infections? 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