FAQs on recalled US apples

MANILA, Philippines – The US government has recalled early this year shipments to the Philippines of apple packer Bidart Brothers after strains of the bacteria listeria were collected from samples from the company’s processing plant in California.

Listeria is a bacteria that can be found in contaminated food. It causes flu-like symptoms, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, brain abscess, and even miscarriage, among others.

The country’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) already clarified that no apples from Bidart Brothers have so far entered the country, and that the agency has conducted random testing for apple imports that arrive at the Manila ports.

Here are other information you need to know about the recall of apples from the US, as provided by the Washington Apple Commission (WAC), the Northwest Horticultural Council (NWHC) and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

Are all US apples being recalled?

No. Only Granny Smith and Gala apples shipped from Bidart Brothers’ Shafter, California, facility on or before December 2, 2014, are being recalled. All other US apples, including those grown in Washington State, are not a part of the Bidart Brothers recall. Recalled products may have been sold under the Bidart Brothers labels.

Why are the Bidart Brothers Granny Smith and Gala apples from California being recalled?

Bidart Brothers of California issued the voluntary recall after the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) detected Listeria monocytogenes in environmental samples taken at the Bidart Brothers’ packing plant located in Shafter, California. More about the investigation can be found on the FDA website.

Have there been any illnesses associated with fresh apples?

To date, no illnesses have been linked to fresh apples. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only reported cases of people becoming ill after consuming commercially prepackaged caramel-covered apples. More information about the outbreak can be found on the CDC’s website. 

Were the recalled Bidart Brothers apples from California shipped to destinations outside of the United States?

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has informed all trading partners known to have sourced apples from Bidart Brothers. According to a notice from the Information Food Safety Network, this includes Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.

How can consumers prevent an infection with Listeria?

The CDC recommends several measures, among them rinsing raw produce thoroughly under running water, drying produce with a clean towel, and separating uncooked meats and poultry from other foods. More information can be found here.

Are caramel apples being recalled?

Some of the Bidart Brothers’ Granny Smith and Gala apples were used for making commercially prepackaged caramel-covered apples in the US, so 3 U.S. caramel apple companies have recalled their caramel apples that were made with Bidart Brothers apples. The recalled caramel apple brands are: Merb’s, California Snack Foods, and Happy Apple. According to all 3 of these companies, the recalled caramel apples are beyond their use-by dates and are no longer available for purchase. – Rappler.com