GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A nationwide recall of caramel apples by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) should not have a large impact on the Michigan apple industry, a West Michigan distributor said.
The recall and warning comes in the wake of a listeria outbreak that made 28 people ill and has been blamed for six deaths, according to a warning issued by the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday, Dec. 19.
“Joint investigation efforts indicate that commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples are the likely source. At this time, no illnesses related to this outbreak have been linked to apples that are not caramel-coated and not prepackaged or to caramel candy,” the CDC said.
“Out of an abundance of caution, CDC recommends that U.S. consumers not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided,” the warning said.
The illness has not been reported in Michigan but in these 10 states: Arizona (4 cases), California (1), Minnesota (4), Missouri (5), New Mexico (5), North Carolina (1), Texas (4), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (2), the warning said.
Fifteen of the 18 ill people interviewed reported eating commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples before becoming ill, the CDC said. Illness onset dates ranged from Oct. 17 to Nov. 27, 2014.
Don Armock, president of Riveridge Packing Co. in Sparta, said his company may have to divert several truckloads of apples they had cleaned and were ready to ship to caramel apple producers in Illinois and Missouri.
Armock, whose company is one of the leading distributors of Michigan-grown apples, said early investigations point to a Minnesota processing plant. Because of the high temperatures used to process the caramel and coat the apples, Armock said toppings added afterwards may be the culprit.
The impact on the apple industry should be minimal because the peak season for caramel apple consumption has passed, Armock said.
None of the early investigations point to Michigan growers or processors, Armock said. “To my knowledge, there’s nobody (in Michigan) with the exception of farm market operators, who makes caramel apples.”
Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.
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