Kitchen

[DerekD412]

My good friend used to work for the CDC, and he brings up a few points:

1. The "70 Day" thing for Listeria is very uncommon, most of the time, symptoms appear within 3-14 days.

2. Since Mrs. P's are distributed to all 50 states, and have been for a month or so, we'd be seeing many more cases than 29 in 10 states if Mrs. P's were affected. The primary area affected seems to be the mid-West, so that's probably where the origination point is.

[BellaPaprika]

Cases have now appeared as far west as Washington state and as far east as North Carolina and the CDC is still saying to avoid all packaged caramel apples with or without toppings.

[VaBelle35]

On 12/22/2014 DerekD412 said:

My good friend used to work for the CDC, and he brings up a few points:

1. The "70 Day" thing for Listeria is very uncommon, most of the time, symptoms appear within 3-14 days.

2. Since Mrs. P's are distributed to all 50 states, and have been for a month or so, we'd be seeing many more cases than 29 in 10 states if Mrs. P's were affected. The primary area affected seems to be the mid-West, so that's probably where the origination point is.

The problem is that the initial symptoms are common and most people will think stomach flu at first, so a lot of people aren't going to seek treatment right away. Until more people go to the doctor or hospital and get tested for the strain, it's a waiting game.

Once they're tested, then they have to go through the tedious task of everything they ate that day, that week, that month. If they had the apple, they have to find out where they got it. If it was a gift, then they have to track down the gifter.

It's a lot of legwork. It's not going to be solved in an hour like CSI

[dooBdoo]

On 12/23/2014 VaBelle35 said:

On 12/22/2014 DerekD412 said:

My good friend used to work for the CDC, and he brings up a few points:

1. The "70 Day" thing for Listeria is very uncommon, most of the time, symptoms appear within 3-14 days.

2. Since Mrs. P's are distributed to all 50 states, and have been for a month or so, we'd be seeing many more cases than 29 in 10 states if Mrs. P's were affected. The primary area affected seems to be the mid-West, so that's probably where the origination point is.

The problem is that the initial symptoms are common and most people will think stomach flu at first, so a lot of people aren't going to seek treatment right away. Until more people go to the doctor or hospital and get tested for the strain, it's a waiting game.

Once they're tested, then they have to go through the tedious task of everything they ate that day, that week, that month. If they had the apple, they have to find out where they got it. If it was a gift, then they have to track down the gifter.

It's a lot of legwork. It's not going to be solved in an hour like CSI

This is correct, VaBelle. I noticed the 12/22/14 update included at least one new case reported and verified. This will, of necessity, be a long process and it will be quite a while before the CDC knows the extent and the cause of the outbreak.

[Foggy morning]

I just read that a lawsuit has been filed for one of the persons who have died. This was filed in Santa Cruz County, CA. The caramel apple that is suspected was bought at a Safeway grocery chain market. The article explained that the grocery store can be liable for selling food with listeria. That is the law, at least in California.

[dooBdoo]

I just saw it, too, ambermoon. One of many articles:

First Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Listeria Outbreak Linked to Caramel Apples

12/22/14 "...The investigation is not over. "At this time, no illnesses related to this outbreak have been linked to apples that are not caramel-coated and not prepackaged or to caramel candy," states the complaint filed Monday in California Superior Court in Santa Clara County.

Lawyers for Mr. Frey also stated in the complaint that CDC is working to identify specific brands that produced and packaged the caramel apples.

In the meantime, attorneys Harry Stern of San Francisco’s Rains Lucia Stern and William D. Marler of Marler Clark, the national food-safety law firm based in Seattle, say that CDC has warned the public not to eat any caramel apples. This warning extends to plain caramel apples and those with nuts or other toppings...

...Listeria is one of the more deadly pathogens. The last Listeria outbreak causing multiple deaths came three years ago when Colorado-grown cantaloupe was contaminated with the bacteria, causing three dozen deaths. The so-called “opportunistic pathogen” is a significant danger to the elderly, pregnant woman, and others with compromised immune systems."

[VaBelle35]

I just went over to my neighbor's house to exchange gifts quickly and asked her if she purchased any Mrs P as she's a huge QVCer like I am. She had AND she had no idea about the CDC announcement as she has a house full of people and animals and is in the throws of cooking.

She was going to serve them Christmas eve.

[Clairee100]

Mrs. Prindables states that they make their own caramel. Wouldn't the caramel have to reach a boiling point when preparing? And wouldn't the bacteria be killed in the cooking process?

Also, where are people getting "symptoms could take up to 70 days" - ? I found this statement on CDC's website. "Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually start within several days. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics."

My family & I have already consumed some of the apples. We have gifted them as well, as I purchased 2 dozen. I can't imagine that Mrs. Prindables would be on the contamination list, as they have been making these for years & years and are THE BEST. I'm not going to throw the rest of them out yet. I hope the other brands get named quickly so we will all know.

[BellaPaprika]

On 12/23/2014 Clairee100 said:

Mrs. Prindables states that they make their own caramel. Wouldn't the caramel have to reach a boiling point when preparing? And wouldn't the bacteria be killed in the cooking process?

Also, where are people getting "symptoms could take up to 70 days" - ? I found this statement on CDC's website. "Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually start within several days. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics."

My family & I have already consumed some of the apples. We have gifted them as well, as I purchased 2 dozen. I can't imagine that Mrs. Prindables would be on the contamination list, as they have been making these for years & years and are THE BEST. I'm not going to throw the rest of them out yet. I hope the other brands get named quickly so we will all know.

This is from the CNN website: "Symptoms of listeriosis infection include muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, fever, and convulsions. Typically, symptoms begin three to 70 days after eating the tainted food." So, although it's not common to have the onset take so long it can happen.

As for the question about caramel being boiled. Although it's true that boiling is part of making caramel, boiling alone doesn't kill bacteria. As a medical person I can tell you that there is a specific length of time things must boil in order to kill all the bacteria and the caramel more than likely is not allowed to boil at a full rolling boil for that long. When you make caramel you let it come to a boil and then reduce the heat. Also, even if food is boiled, bacteria can infect it during the cooling down process.

Bottom line, if the $$ you've spent on the apples and their taste outweighs the possible risk of death then those sure must be some tasty apples!

[Lila4Now]

I wouldn't stake my health on QVC, or Mrs. Prindables. No matter what QVC, or Mrs. Prindables says, I'm going with the CDC. The CDC doesn't make decisions based on income. I would for sure return them. I just don't believe either of them above what the CDC says.