The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that at least seven deaths may may be linked to a listeria outbreak involving caramel apples. The CDC reports that 31 people have been hospitalized across 11 states.
Among the people who became sick, ten were pregnant. Pregnant women are ten times more likely to develop listeriosis.
The outbreak has prompted three companies to recall their caramel apples: Happy Apple Company, California Snack Foods and Merb’s Candies. Some of the apples were traced back to Bidart Bros., which supplied apples to both Happy Apple Company and Merb’s Candies. Bidart Bros. itself issued a recall of Granny Smith apples it sold to caramel apple companies.