Apples was the source of a Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 32 people and has links to three deaths.

Strains collected from apples were similar to those isolated from patients.

The traceback investigation confirmed the apple supplier, based in Bakersfield, California, is the only one that supplied apples to the Happy Apple Company and Merb’s Candies, said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The companies, along with California Snack Foods, of El Monte, California, have issued voluntary recalls of caramel apples.

Listeria isolated from environmental samples: FDA laboratory analyses showed that environmental Listeria isolates from the Bidart Bros. facility were indistinguishable from outbreak strains by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

The agency said test results confirm two strains were found at the apple processing facility and are believed to be those associated with the outbreak.

Those same strains were also found in Bidart Bros. apples collected from a retailer by the FDA.

Expanded recall: The Company has recalled all Bidart Bros. Granny Smith and Gala apples still in the marketplace. Bidart Bros. last shipped Granny Smith apples to customers on December 2, 2014. Thirty-one ill people have been hospitalized, and seven deaths have been reported. Listeriosis contributed to at least three of these.

In its latest update (January 10) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 32 people have been infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes from 11 states.

Thirty-one ill people have been hospitalized, and seven deaths have been reported. Listeriosis contributed to at least three of these. Ten illnesses were pregnancy related with one illness resulting in a fetal loss and three meningitis cases were among otherwise healthy children aged 5–15 years.

To date, 25 (89%) of the 28 ill people interviewed reported eating commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples before becoming ill. The three ill people who did not report eating caramel apples did eat whole or sliced green apples not covered in caramel but the source remains unknown, said CDC.

Canada investigation: The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has identified two cases of listeriosis with the same DNA fingerprints, or pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, as seen in the US outbreak.

Consumers should avoid eating commercially produced, prepackaged whole caramel apples including those various brands and types containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate & other toppings that were manufactured using Bidart Bros. apples. Consumers who are buying or have recently bought caramel apples should ask their retailer if the caramel apples were manufactured using recalled apples.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm429689.htm