Embassy: No fresh US apples linked to Listeria

This picture taken on Dec. 12, 2014, shows apples at a market in Rungis, France. AFP

MANILA, Philippines—The United States (US) Embassy on Friday said no fresh apples shipped from the US have been linked to an outbreak of Listeria, a bacteria found in contaminated food which causes Listeriosis.

“No US fresh apples have been linked to the outbreak of Listeria,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

“According to the US Food and Drug Administration the harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes has thus far only been linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples made from apples using Bidart Brothers Apples located in California,” the statement said.

“The FDA has also stated that the growing season for these types of apples has ended and the firm’s last shipping date was Dec. 2, 2014. Bidart Brothers is no longer shipping apples,” it added.

The US Embassy said the recall of US apples by California-based supplier Bidart Brothers was “voluntary” and limited to those packed by the said supplier.

On Jan. 10, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Listeria on the samples of Granny Smith and Gala apples from Bidart Brothers.

Following the findings, the Philippine government ordered the recall of Granny Smith and Gala apples from the US after the apples were associated with Listeriosis in the United States.