The following recall is connected to the Listeria outbreak linked to prepackaged caramel apples. Our lawyers are investigating a lawsuit against all responsible companies.
Happy Apple Company issued a recall of Happy Apple Brand caramel apples because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, dangerous bacteria that can cause severe infections called listeriosis. The bacteria first colonize in the intestines, then move to the liver and then to the blood stream. From there, the bacteria can move to other organs or through the placenta. When listeria causes sepsis or meningitis it is often fatal. When a pregnant woman gets Listeria, her newborn baby may be born with the illness. When this happens, it can take one or more days for the baby to be noticeably sick. Many of these little ones die.
Caramel Apple Recall Information
The recalled caramel apples have a best use by date between August 25th and November 23rd 2014. Happy Apple caramel apples are sold in single pack, three packs, four packs and eight packs and each package will have a best use by date on the front of the label. They were available for retail sale through grocery, discount and club stores, generally in the produce section and were distributed to retailers in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin.
Current Listeria Outbreak
The company is working with the FDA in its investigation of the current listeriosis outbreak linked to caramel apples. The company recently received notice from Bidart Brothers, one of the apple suppliers to their California facility, that there may be a connection between this outbreak and the apples Bidart Brothers supplied to that Happy Apples facility.
To date, there are 29 illnesses in 10 states linked to the outbreak: Arizona (4), California (1), Minnesota (4), Missouri (5), New Mexico (5), North Carolina (1), Texas (4), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (3). The caramel apples were sold at Safeway, Cub Foods, Kwik Trip, Mike’s Discount Food and other stores.
The CDC has advised consumers not to eat commercially produced, pre-packaged caramel apples until more is known.
Happy Apples ceased our operations at the end of October as part of their normal, seasonal shut down and the caramel apples produced are no longer available in stores.
This Listeria outbreak involves both personal injury and wrongful death claims. One of the families with a wrongful death claim has filed a lawsuit. Other lawsuits will follow.