As the New Year begins, the number of victims tied to the Caramel Apple Listeria outbreak of 2014 continues to grow. There are now 32 cases in the U.S., 31 of who have been hospitalized subsequent to listeriosis, and another 2 reported in Canada. The 32 U.S. victims come from across the nation, including 6 victims from New Mexico, 5 victims from Missouri, 4 victims from Arizona, Minnesota and Texas, 3 from Wisconsin, 2 from California, and 1 from Nevada, North Carolina, Utah, and Washington.
These illnesses have led to a number of recalls so far, including recalls by Happy Apples of Washington, Missouri, Merb’s Candies of St. Louis, Missouri, and California Snack Foods of South El Monte, California. The brands being recalled include at least these brands: Bionic Apples, Double Dipped Apples, and Karm’l Dapples. Pacific Coast Fruit, as distributer, reports having recalled 220 cases of Granny Smith apples.
So far, each of the above named retailers issuing recalls have pointed to apples provided to them by Bidart Brothers, a Bakersfield, California company. This follows a December 22nd letter from Bidart issued to its suppliers, in which the company President, Leonard Bidart, states that his company is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the State of California to prevent the possible spread of listeriosis.
Listeriosis in a dangerous illness, and as in this outbreak, can prove fatal. This is especially true for the young, elderly, and in the case of Listeria, for the unborn children of pregnant women. According to Ron Simon, who represents victims in this outbreak, “seeking medical attention is imperative, and talking to your doctor about the fact that you have consumed these products is important. Listeria is often only diagnosed once a physician or other medical professional is aware of the possibility of exposure and conducts the proper testing. Good communication is vital between patients and their doctors.” If you have questions about this outbreak, call one of the Listeria lawyers at Ron Simon & Associates at 1-888-335-4901.
