Recall of US apples limited to packed by Bidart Brothers

MANILA, Philippines – The United States embassy in Manila clarified Friday, January 23, that the recent recall of Granny Smith and Gala apples from the United States is limited to those packed by a single packing house in California, the Bidart Brothers. 

It was reported on January 16 that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is recalling shipment of California apple packer Bidart Brothers to the Philippines after its products were linked to an outbreak associated with listeriosis in the United States.

Listeriosis is caused by infection with listeria, a bacteria that can be found in contaminated food, causing flu-like symptoms, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, miscarriage, brain abscess, among other sickness.

On Friday, the US Embassy said that there are no known problems for apples exported from other origins in the US, including Washington state, and these have been cleared by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Washington State is the largest exporter of US apples to the Philippines.

The embassy, however, recalled its advisory on Friday.

DTI Undersecretary Victorio Mario Dimagiba earlier warned that the following shipment consigned by International Produce Group LLC and MB Fresh International are being recalled as they are not safe for consumption:

• 345,000 cartons of Granny Smith apples (700 pounds per carton)
• 30,000 cartons of Gala apples (40 lb per carton)
• 600 cartons of Triwall apples (700 lbs)

On January 10, the FDA said it found strains of listeria on samples collected from Bidart Brothers’ processing plant in California.

The FDA, however, did not identify the Triwall apples as Bidart Brothers products.

Other countries, like United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Canada have been notified by FDA about the recall. – Rappler.com