The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a warning
that there could be listeria bacteria contaminating apples imported from Bidart
Bros. of the United States.
Six have died and 26 are ill in the United States.
Six have died and 26 are ill in the United States.
The varieties the have drawn the CFIA warning are Granny Smith and Gala packed under the Big
B and Granny’s Best labels and imported by distributors Beauvais Ltee., Courchesne Larose and
Coosemans Montreal Inc. to retailers and restaurants from Ontario to
Newfoundland.
The Canadian recall was prompted after U.S. officials issued recalls.
The CFIA says it continues to work closely with the Public Health Agency of
Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the issue.
The public health agency says two Canadians – one in Ontario and
another in Manitoba – have been sickened by the same genetic strain of listeria
identified in the U.S. outbreaks related to caramel apples.
“As a precaution, the Public Health Agency of Canada is
advising that Canadians do not eat Happy Apples caramel apples or any other
commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples imported from the U.S. until
further notice.
“This includes plain caramel apples as well as those
containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings. These products could
have a shelf life of one month,” the agency says on its website today.
